Recognize that even if something someone shares is not real to you, it is real to them.

Enter the other person's world through their eyes.

Act like you always have.

I walked circles around the tables at lunch, had overenthusiastic and odd social mannerisms, and was suspected to be autistic before kindergarten (though not officially diagnosed until age 10 or 11).

I was lucky to have an uncle who told me quite a few times that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Being a literal kid, I remember asking, "Can I fly?" And he told me you can get on an airplane and fly. I took that to heart.

No matter what situation I've gotten into, if a problem has come up or a meaningful goal, I've found a way — no matter what anyone else had to say to me.

When I went through serious mental health symptoms and hospitalizations, I connected with a support group and WRAP class, meeting others who deal with these things to figure out how I could as well. When I was encouraged to apply for disability, I applied to college and took every opportunity from then on to encourage others living with mental health conditions to........

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