My experience with Asperger's Syndrome and Friendship

Preface: The purpose of this article is quite simple. In my last post, I talked briefly about the misconception that people with Asperger's Syndrome are typically introverted and have no desire whatsoever to interact with people. This is false. In this article I am going to share about the relationships that I have built. 

First of all, let me start by saying the same thing I say every time. Asperger's Syndrome is defined as a developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by higher than average intellectual ability coupled with impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities. You'll notice that I highlighted impaired social skills. This is because it actually gives me an unexpected advantage with it comes to relationships.

Why is this advantageous? Lacking social skills generally turns people away from you. But then there are those who take the opportunity to get to know you. This means that I have the uncommon ability to make friendships that are built around love, trust, and loyalty. Some of the relationships that I have built over the last several months have proven to not only be meaningful but also beneficial. Like I have said in the previous posts, I went through some difficult times over the last semester. If it wasn't for the love and support I got from these friends, I have no clue where I would be.

Yes, I am finally taking Houston

Most of these relationships began in Texas of all places. Over spring break, I got the opportunity to travel with one of Lancaster Bible College's journey teams to the Houston Area. We traveled to volunteer with an organization called Samaritan's Purse. Little fun fact about this organization, it is headed by Franklin Graham... son of Billy Graham.

This trip would be the trip of a lifetime. It wasn't a vacation. It wasn't a time filled with relaxation and luxury. It was a trip that brought me closer to God as well as to some pretty amazing people.

You see, when you build a house together, you build a unique connection. You get some time to really get to know each other. That would generally make someone like myself kinda nervous, because past experiences would say that at least half of these people would tease me and pick on me because I was different. You can probably imagine my surprise then when I came out of this trip with a "squad". I don't call it that.. they do.

Since meeting these people in Texas, I have always had people to lean on. In fact.. for the first time in my life, one of these people said to me that they would be their for me... no matter what. Of course friendships come and go, but that doesn't make that statement any less significant.

The only downside to all this is that having a social disorder can cause me to make some mistakes. I've lost friends due to a lack of social awareness in some cases, but that only makes the ones that I still have more special to me. You see, a common misconception about people with Asperger's Syndrome is that they don't want to interact with people. In reality however, we just don't know the best ways to do so. Even with my closest friends I have had some awkward moments. But what is so amazing about these people is that instead of distancing themselves or making fun of me, they helped me through those moments.