So that makes it harder but I’m not giving up on you. Is there an organization in your area that serves the asd community? Could you give them a call and let them know your predicament? They may know organizations that would be delighted to employ you, and because you are so high functioning, you’d be helping them show an employer what someone with asd has to offer (and you would be paving the way for someone else when you go back to school). I understand how hard it is to have to reach out like this. For anyone. But especially when your confidence is low. Be strong. And again, if you live in an area with any kind of agriculture, this is the time of year when people need help picking. (That’s my anti anxiety med! It’s very calming!)
Go to a good psychiatrist for a consult. There are so many options with medication, you may need to keep adjusting to get it right. Objectively you are doing great, but your brain has to feel that.
Personally, I would generally recommend psychotherapy only if you can afford $150 cash per visit to a top therapist. Otherwise, you may as well just chat with any basically normal person.
@nontraditionalguy There’s a counseling service I go to during the year on campus.
@gardenstategal ASD is short for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Aspergers in my case). And the town where I live doesn’t have a big agricultural market anymore.
I’m an aspie as well. That’s a downer, but I think with the right meds you most probably will suddenly feel the cloud lift.
I’ve been hospitalized twice so far for suicidal intentions. Don’t hesitate to go in patient if you feel the need. Psych wards are actually very interesting and you’ll see a shrink every morning during rounds.
Does your college do orientation for new students, do they need helpers for move-in? You could help with the ID cards or assigning moving carts, you could move in early and work.
If not, surely you could help out at home with yardwork, ask neighbors if they need some chores done?
@mommdc Freshmen Orientation is usually held in late June and early July over the course of six sessions. For that, Student Orientation Counselors are selected midway through the semester around March. They also help with moving in, and the RAs are responsible for checking students in. So I’m out of luck there. As someone else already mentioned, I’ll just have to wait until school starts up again to find an on-campus job. On the other hand, my parents don’t want me sitting around the house all summer and if I won’t be traditionally employed then it won’t be possible for me to get out much. I’ll just be a waste of space like I already somewhat consider myself. Employment isn’t the only issue I’ve been having lately, so when all three come together, it only reinforces how much of an outcast I am from the average college student.
Hey, just want to say that you’re certainly not alone in any of these feelings. First of all, finding a summer job is HARD. I know a ton of people who can’t find anything. Don’t take it personally - there’s just swarms of college students who come home for the summer and there are more students than jobs. My brother’s been trying to find something for like three summers in a row even though he applies early and has a decent resume. Do you have any interest in being a camp counselor? Most of the places around here always have last minute positions.
I was veryyy introverted and awkward in high school and I felt the same way as you going into college. But the truth is that college is probably the one place in your life where it’s completely normal to approach random people and try to be friendly. I get what you’re saying - it seems like everyone else just makes friends more naturally. I just started talking to people in my classes (“hey, I heard this professor is really good” or “have you taken any other classes in this department?”) and it was so much easier than I thought. Not everybody, but many people in college are very open to making new friends because to some extent everyone is in the same boat.
@rebeccar It’s probably too late to sign up as a camp counselor where I’m from. Also, what do the people who can’t find anything do with their summer?
Well… you could volunteer? Library? Park? If you just need something to do, you clearly have smarts and desire. Doesn’t solve the money issue, but it helps with the others. What do you like?
@gardenstategal Well, I currently volunteer at a history museum once or twice a month. During my freshman college year, I helped with food donations, cleaning up the city, and carrying lumber into the woods. I do like history, geography, music, etc., but mostly those three things. I probably can’t do anything athletic considering I have low muscle tone (was born with it) and I personally consider myself overweight. I would be a laughingstock if I did any volunteer work with sports. Even if I got job/volunteering problem solved, I have two other problems I have to deal with - my double major and being a outcast (or what I like to call a “stereotypical high school dweeb”).
Can you get more hours at the museum? Sounds like a good fit for you. And for them.
@gardenstategal I’ll see what else I can find first. Also, I apologize if I am posting too much in my own thread.
I like the idea of learning business and management along with your history major. Maybe a minor in one or the other, unless you can easily fit a double-major. Ask about self-designing a major. The key will be internships that blend your interests. You can already leverage your volunteer work and good reputation (and academic performance) into internships. Some internships are paid a stipend or wage. Or write a winning grant and bring your own finding (carefully).
Research how to match career options to your “type” (think Myers-Briggs) for ideas on positions that are rewarding. There are whole books on this. 
Then dig up or create roles during college that would position you to compete for the desired careers.
Stay away from big social groups. It doesn’t sound like your cup of tea. Stick with very small gatherings (even one to one) of people who have a similar interest. Maybe a task force, work group, committee, social dance lessons, book club…small, with folks who want to be there. Will likely feel more inclusive and “adult” than high school-ish.
Learn all the office skills, social media marketing and organization communication skills, grant proposal writing, program assessement/stats, HR management, oral history practice, artifact conservation, storytelling, etc. Applying such skills in a history-related context will build the bridge to your future.
Is there work you could do to help some heritage music concern? Place appreciation? Etc.?
Can you find at least one person as a meal-buddy? Maybe even a small study group who would be interested in dinner discussion of course material? I hate to think how isolated you must feel and hope you next year is better. Don’t let the grades slip.
Also, could you do any childcare this summer for a local boy with ASD? His family likely needs respite care and you probably understand him more than most babysitters. Connect through your area’s ASD community network (mom/dad Yahoo groups, grade school social workers, etc.).
Above: *funding (not finding)
@dyiu13 My parents insist I have time to major since I already brought in 23 credits from high school. They want me to major in something that is marketable, perhaps placing that of greater importance than what makes me happy - history in my case. Also, no one is really sympathetic to loners in the dining hall for the most part, so I wish myself good luck with that. On the other hand, when it comes to Honors Program activities, large groups might be inevitable, whether they’re mandatory or people I’m comfortable with (not necessarily friends) show up. If I be perfectly honestly, I’ve had very few friends in life (and even that is a stretch) and I’ve never had one best friend due to my lack of understanding social cues.
Email your academic advisor and work together on a semester-by-semester plan to calculate if both majors will fit. Which concentrations would you want?
Ask if there are any group therapy or support groups in your school’s counseling center and participate regularly when you return. See if you can get involved with your school’s diversity office (neurodiversity is a thing), maybe some advisory board or some-such. Seeing the same small group of people daily or weekly will likely help you find positive connection with others. You will be able to find a niche and you can use your strategizing and analytical skills to do so. You definitely have some strengths. Play to them. – Somewhere you will find at least one other student (maybe someone also feeling isolated) who needs dinner in the dining hall. Combine forces.
It might feel like you’re the only one, but there is a massive number of lonely college students on campus. And, they’re lovely people. Go figure!
As long as you have two people (you being one) interested in connection, even missing social cues is ok if you are enjoying the activity or company. But, in large groups that dynamic is almost impossible to create, it seems to me.
Does your college have an archive? Are there any history projects or institutes connected to the school? Can you seek guidance on interesting internships from any history or other profs or staff? What kind/style of music interests you?
You could help your parents understand you’re working this summer to lay the groundwork for the future?
@dyiu13
I tried individual counseling last semester. While it did indeed give me someone to talk to and listen to my problems, I don’t know if it did much for me in the long-run. So I’m not sure if group counseling will do it either. On a personal level, I was embarrassed by the though of group counseling. In any cas, demand was so high last year that I was lucky to get a spot - many people were eventually turned away. It’s too late to contact my advisors now since it’s summer break and they have lives as well outside of being professors. So I’d have to wait until the fall to contact them unless I am somehow mistaken and this is merely a misconception. At the dining hall, I’m often the only one sitting by myself and no one wants to sit with a loner when they have other people they would rather sit with. Oh, and I believe there are history archives in my school library.