Trials and Tribulations (Part 26)- Spring & Summer 2015

After careful thought and deliberation, I thought others would find this interesting about our battle with Asperger Syndrome. If anyone would like to post about their trials and tribulations, please leave a link so we can read your story. :)

This is written in the third person.




Spring semester 2015 seemed to go a lot smoother for M. Stress and anxiety issues were lessened and M appeared to enjoy UMBC a little more. His parents also continued to contact him via Skype, cell phone, texting, emails, etc. and also visited him a few times. M still did not socialize with others and spent all his time alone (meals, studying, movies, etc.). His parents tried to get him to socialize more, but M said he was too busy studying. At UMBC they have LRC 101A, a course that is available to encourage students to explore and develop their personal responsibility, self-motivation, interdependence, and self-esteem, and to make wise choices that create successful results. This class was recommended for M to take by Jackie Wilson, the Assistant Director for Residential Operations in the Residential Life office, but M refused to sign up for it during Fall Semester. He did register for it during Spring Semester (he even had Ms. Wilson as the professor for the class) and it undoubtedly contributed to M’s success for the spring. Hopefully, M will continue to do well at UMBC both academically and psychologically.

M made sure he continued to fulfill his obligations and responsibilities that were required so he would not be suspended or terminated from Student Support Services (SSS). He completed an accommodations card with his schedule at the beginning of Spring semester at UMBC and turned it in. He also met with SSS for academic advisement and obtained a private tutor (at no charge) for Spanish through SSS.

One computer science class that M signed up for at UMBC during Spring semester was part 2 of a course he took at community college. M received an A in part 1 of the course from CSM and he transferred that class to UMBC. Unfortunately, M found that the part 1 computer science course at CSM did not prepare him sufficiently. After consulting with the professor about his predicament, M dropped the course. Since he dropped the course before the 2 week deadline, M did not receive a “W” on his transcript and 80% of the course fee was refunded to him. He also was able to return his book and received 100% refund. M will retake the class during Spring semester 2016. He will also audit the part 1 course during Fall semester 2015 and the letters "AU" will be entered on his transcript under credits and the course will not earn credit or impact his GPA. When a student audits a class they are considered a passive learner and may not recite in class or take examinations, but is expected to attend classes with reasonable regularity and do some assigned work. This will allow M to learn what CSM did not teach him and apply what he studied to help him with part 2 of the class when he takes it Spring semester 2016.

Prior to class registration for Fall semester 2015, M made appointments with his advisors and met with them to discuss what he should take. On the appointed day and time M went online and registered for classes.

M registered for housing online for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. The new process to apply for housing online at UMBC was rather arduous and confusing, but M persevered and obtained a single room at Harbor Hall again and kept the same room. M also obtained his meal plan for Fall 2015.

M took an online class during the summer. There were not many classes available to take that M needed, but he signed up for a class that went toward a required elective that is needed to graduate at UMBC. The online class was only for 4 weeks and M found it very fast paced and extremely stressful. He dropped the class after 3 weeks. M received a “W” on his transcript and the course will not impact his GPA.

M tried to obtain a job over the summer at the military base, but unfortunately he did not qualify due to his lack of a certain college course requirement he needed for the job. He therefore volunteered at the local Food Pantry Monday and Wednesday (9 AM to 12 PM) to help fulfill references and work experience for his resume.

During Summer Break M made sure he went online and reserved his books and materials at the UMBC Book Store to pick up prior to the start of Fall semester 2015. This has worked out well which avoids shipping fees and waiting in long lines to obtain his books.