Nick has studied hard during his semesters at the local college. On average, he is taking 8 units a semester and working 15 hours a week. That is a full schedule. We've had to focus on time management and studying skills, and it's paying off. We continue to work on some anxiety/calming techniques as school isn't always smooth, but he is moving towards his goal of graduating.
For most people, they would think that this is nice and move on. For Nick this is HUGE. He was diagnosed mildly mentally retarded in preschool. I had to fight that label as it was not accurate. Both the psychologist, who conducted the test, and his preschool teacher agreed with me that this was not accurate. It was ridiculous to put such a label on him.
It took three more years to get a correct diagnosis of autism. All through that time, we worked with Nick. We dealt with sensory issues and diet issues. Finding a balance of teaching and communicating was delicate, but we did.
Now Nick is moving forward beyond what anyone imagined. College! We are proud, and Nick's hard work and perseverance continues to pay off!
To be considered for Phi Theta Kappa, the potential member must have a minimum 3.5 GPA. Nick enjoys going to their meetings and volunteering with them.
