Hey @Chars2004
I wanted to say that I am so very proud of you for opening up on here about everything. I also want you to know that you are not alone, and that I see and hear you.
I can resonate a lot with what you have written in your post. I'm 22 and went all throughout schooling with undiagnosed autism and was frequently bullied because of how I was, even though I never knew why.
I also want to reassure you that it is normal, especially while we're young, to not know what we want to do in our life, or even feel like we've failed at life when we compare what we have/haven't done with others who are around our own age. I am proud of you for trying that photography course, and there is nothing wrong with realising that it wasn't for you; perhaps there is another artistic practice that may interest you, like making things from clay, makeup, writing, or even just doing a colouring in.
It can be tricky trying to navigate the whole job scene being autistic and having OCD and social anxiety, as you said, most unskilled/entry-level jobs require you to socialise and do customer service. There are some unskilled/entry-level jobs out there like data entry, lab technician (I could do a TAFE course for this), or even some freelance work as a writer, for example. I know lots of people, especially autistic people, who decide to start up their own little businesses too which might interest you.
You mentioned your passion for queer stories and that it is something that makes you feel free. You could 100% turn that into a job. Whether that is writing queer stories or making queer art, or working for a queer/neurodiverse small company, there are many paths you could choose. Being autistic and a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community myself, and my own values and beliefs, I want to get a job within the mental health sector so I can help neurodiverse and queer folk in all areas of life. Because of this, I'll be doing a Diploma in Mental Health and a Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs through TAFE.
I also recommend finding queer/neurodiverse spaces online/in person; coming on here is definitely a great start, as there are many folks who are neurodiverse and/or are a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community.
I hope some of this will help you a little.
- Matcha_Toad 🐸🍵💚
