For much of my life, perseverance has not meant moving forward without struggling. It has meant continuing to move forward even during the moments when I felt overwhelmed, uncertain, misunderstood, or unsure of where I belonged. Being neurodivergent and autistic has shaped the way I experience the world, from how I communicate and form relationships to how I process change, stress, expectations, and unfamiliar environments. There have been times when these differences have made certain parts of life more difficult, especially in environments that were not designed with people like me in mind. At the same time, being neurodivergent has also influenced my curiosity, determination, passions, and the unique way I see the world around me.

Growing up, I often felt that I had to work harder to navigate situations that seemed to come naturally to other people. There were social expectations I did not always understand, changes that felt overwhelming, and moments when I questioned whether I was progressing through life in the way I was supposed to. As I have gotten older, however, I have begun to realize that there is no single timeline or definition of success that everyone has to follow. My path has not always been straightforward, but every challenge, transition, disappointment, and accomplishment has contributed to the person I am becoming.

One of the most difficult parts of growing up neurodivergent has not always been autism itself, but the way other people have responded to me because of it. At different points in my life, I have felt undermined, underestimated, or treated as though other people knew what I was capable of better than I did. Sometimes people made assumptions about what I could handle, what decisions I could make for myself, or what my future might look like. When those messages are repeated enough, it can become difficult not to internalize them. There have been moments when I questioned my own abilities because other people had already questioned them for me.

Over time, I have started learning how to separate other people’s expectations of me from my own expectations for myself. I have realized that being autistic does not mean that I am incapable of independence, ambition, change, or taking risks. It may mean that I approach certain situations differently, need support in some areas, or experience challenges that other people do not always see. Needing support, however, does not erase everything I am capable of doing on my own. I have had to learn that I can acknowledge the areas where I struggle without allowing those struggles to become the entire definition of who I am.

Looking back now, I can see how much my world has expanded. I have navigated college, experienced major changes in my life, traveled independently, encountered cultures far beyond the one I grew up in, and become increasingly comfortable making decisions for myself. Each experience has challenged some of the assumptions that other people—and sometimes I myself have held about what I can do. None of these experiences erased the challenges I face, but they showed me that struggling with something and being capable of doing it can exist at the same time. I can feel anxious and still take a risk. I can need help and still be independent. I can experience setbacks and still continue moving forward.

That is ultimately what perseverance means to me. It is not pretending that difficult experiences do not affect me, proving myself to everyone who has underestimated me, or forcing myself to become someone I am not. It is learning how to understand myself better, advocate for what I need, recover when things do not go according to plan, and continue pursuing a life that feels meaningful to me. Perseverance is also learning to trust myself even when other people doubt me. I cannot control every assumption someone makes about me, but I can continue discovering for myself what I am capable of.

As I look toward the future, there is still a great deal that I do not know. I do not know exactly where I will live, what direction my career will ultimately take, who I will meet, or how much my goals will change as I grow older. Instead of seeing that uncertainty only as something frightening, I am beginning to see it as a possibility. There are countries I have not visited, people I have not met, interests I have not discovered, and versions of myself that I have not yet had the opportunity to become.

Being autistic will always be part of my story, but it does not determine where that story ends. I do not want my future to be defined by limitations that other people have placed on me or by the moments when I have doubted myself. If anything, my experiences have taught me that a meaningful life does not have to look conventional. I can build one that reflects who I actually am one filled with curiosity, independence, creativity, travel, meaningful work, connection, and continued growth. There will probably always be situations that challenge me, but I am becoming more confident that difficulty does not automatically mean impossibility.

I am still figuring things out, and I think that is okay. Looking ahead does not require having every answer or knowing exactly who I will become. For me, hope comes from knowing that there are still experiences worth having, places worth discovering, relationships worth building, and goals worth pursuing. My journey so far has taught me that progress is rarely a straight line and that other people’s expectations do not have to become my reality. I have already grown beyond versions of myself that I once thought were permanent, and I know I will continue to change. I cannot predict exactly what the next chapter of my life will look like, but I want to enter it with curiosity rather than fear. What matters is that I continue moving forward, learning more about myself, trusting my own capabilities, and remaining open to everything the world still has to offer.

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By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major based in Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future.

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For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students.

Travel has become more than simply visiting new places for me. It has become a way to step outside of the environment I am used to and experience different cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives firsthand. Traveling through Europe has especially pushed me to become more independent and curious about the world beyond the United States. From navigating unfamiliar cities on my own to experiencing different approaches to food, transportation, history, and everyday life, each trip has taught me something that I could not have learned in a classroom. These experiences have also made me think more seriously about what kind of life I want for myself in the future and how much of the world I still want to explore.

Growing up, international travel was not something my family could always afford. As a family of five, traveling anywhere could become expensive quickly, and going overseas was an even bigger commitment. Because of this, traveling internationally felt much more distant to me as a child than it does today. I was interested in seeing other parts of the world, but I did not grow up constantly traveling from country to country. That has made the opportunities I have had as I have gotten older feel even more meaningful.

When I was 18, I took my first major step toward traveling independently when I went to Rome by myself. I spent five weeks there volunteering with cats through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ). It was also my first experience realizing that I was capable of living independently in a completely unfamiliar environment. Suddenly, I had to navigate a foreign city, adapt to cultural differences, meet people I had never known before, and create a routine thousands of miles away from home.

Spending five weeks in Rome was very different from simply visiting somewhere for a few days. I had enough time to become familiar with the city and experience aspects of everyday life rather than seeing everything exclusively through the perspective of a tourist. I became more comfortable navigating public transportation, walking through unfamiliar neighborhoods, and figuring things out for myself when I did not immediately know what to do. There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from being alone in another country and realizing that you can handle situations without relying on someone else to guide you. While Rome was my home base during those five weeks, I also used the opportunity to explore beyond the city. I traveled to other parts of Italy, including Milan, Florence, and Pompeii, which allowed me to see how much history, culture, and everyday life could vary even within the same country. I also took a weekend trip to Switzerland, visiting Lugano, Zurich, and Lucerne. Being able to travel between cities and even cross into another country made Europe feel much more accessible to me and sparked an even greater desire to continue exploring it.

That experience also changed the way I thought about Europe. Instead of seeing it as somewhere distant that I might occasionally visit on vacation, I began to imagine what it would actually be like to spend longer periods of my life abroad. I became increasingly interested in the differences between European and American cities, particularly the way many European cities are designed around walking and public transportation. I also became interested in the individual identities of different European countries. Europe may appear relatively small on a map compared with the United States, but crossing a border can mean encountering a completely different language, history, cuisine, architecture, and culture.

Since that first solo experience, traveling has become one of the main ways I challenge myself. Every new destination requires me to become comfortable with some level of uncertainty. I have had to navigate train systems I had never used, communicate across language barriers, plan itineraries, manage money, and occasionally change plans when something goes wrong. Traveling alone has also taught me that independence does not mean everything will always go perfectly. Instead, it means developing enough confidence in yourself to respond when it does not.

Travel has also made me more curious rather than making me feel as though I have already seen enough. The more places I visit, the more aware I become of how enormous and diverse the world actually is. Visiting one European country often makes me curious about the countries surrounding it. Seeing one city makes me wonder how people live elsewhere. I have learned that even places located relatively close to one another can have completely different histories, social norms, political cultures, and ways of life.

Most importantly, traveling has expanded my idea of what my own future could look like. Growing up in the United States, it was easy to assume that my adult life would naturally remain here. Spending time abroad challenged that assumption. I have become increasingly interested in studying, working, and potentially living abroad for longer periods of time. Even if I ultimately remain in the United States, I want international experiences to continue being a meaningful part of my life.

For me, expanding my horizons does not mean simply adding more countries to a list. It means continuing to put myself in environments that are unfamiliar enough to challenge the way I think. The 18-year-old who traveled alone to Rome was taking a major risk compared with what I had previously experienced. Looking back, that decision opened the door to a much larger curiosity about Europe and the world. There are still countless places I have never been, cultures I know little about, and experiences that are completely unfamiliar to me. Rather than finding that intimidating, I find it exciting. Traveling has taught me that the world I grew up knowing is only one small part of what is possible.

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By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major based in Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future.

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For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students.

As a child, I hated going into stores with my mother to buy clothes that I felt like didn’t suit me. Shopping for clothes was not something I looked forward to because I often felt like I had little control over what I was wearing. My mother and I had different opinions about what looked good, what was appropriate, and what I should buy. Something that might have seemed like a simple shopping trip could sometimes turn into an argument because I wanted to choose clothes that actually felt like me. At the time, I probably did not understand why I cared so much about what I wore. Looking back, I realize that clothing was one of the first ways I wanted to express my own personality and independence.

As I got older, my relationship with fashion changed completely. Instead of seeing clothes as something my mother picked out for me, I started seeing fashion as something I could control myself. I began experimenting with different styles and going through different clothing phases. There were times when I became interested in certain brands, colors, fits, or trends and then moved on to something completely different a few months later. My closet started to reflect whatever phase I was going through at that moment.

I also started shopping a lot more. There was a period when I would spend my father’s money on clothes so often that packages were arriving almost every day. Whenever I found something online that I liked, I wanted to order it. Sometimes it was a shirt, a pair of pants, shoes, or something else I thought would improve my style. Receiving packages became exciting because every new item felt like another opportunity to change the way I presented myself.

Looking back, I can admit that I probably bought much more than I actually needed. Some clothes would become favorites, while others would barely be worn before I became interested in something else. My style changed so frequently that something I loved one month might sit untouched in my closet a few months later. At the same time, constantly experimenting with clothing helped me understand what I actually liked. Even the clothes that I eventually stopped wearing were part of figuring out my personal style.

My different fashion phases also reflected different periods of my life. Sometimes I wanted to dress more casually and blend in with other people around me. Other times I became more interested in looking put together or wearing clothes that stood out. Certain outfits could make me feel more confident, while others immediately felt uncomfortable because they did not represent how I saw myself. I learned that clothing can affect the way a person feels, even when nobody else notices the difference.

When I started buying clothes I had an idea to express myself on Tiktok even though sometimes gossip and people’s speculations about me spreaded. This is one reason fashion became more than just buying clothes for me. It became a creative outlet. Unlike other forms of creativity, fashion is something I can participate in every single day. I would thrift and buy clothes from all kinds of stores such as CottonOn, Zara and when I travel in Europe. Getting dressed involves making choices about colors, textures, silhouettes, shoes, accessories, and how everything works together. Even a simple outfit communicates something about a person. Someone can dress formally, casually, creatively, minimally, or in a way that completely ignores current trends. There is not necessarily one correct way to dress.

Fashion also allows me to change how I express myself depending on how I feel. I do not have to commit to one permanent style. One day I may want something simple and comfortable, while another day I may want to put more effort into an outfit. That freedom is part of what makes fashion interesting to me. My personal style does not have to remain exactly the same as I get older.

The arguments I had with my mother over clothes also make more sense to me now. To her, choosing clothes for me may have simply been part of being a parent. To me, however, it felt more personal because I wanted control over how I looked. As children get older, they naturally begin making more decisions for themselves. Clothing became one of the areas where I wanted that independence. Even though disagreements over clothes might seem small compared with other conflicts, they represented a larger desire to develop my own identity.

I think that experience is part of why I eventually became so interested in fashion. After spending years feeling like other people had opinions about what I should wear, being able to choose for myself felt freeing. I could walk into a store or scroll through a website and decide what I liked without someone else determining whether it matched their idea of me.

At the same time, my relationship with shopping has also taught me that self-expression does not always require constantly buying something new. During the period when packages were arriving every day, it was easy to believe that another shirt or another pair of shoes would somehow complete my wardrobe. Eventually, however, there will always be another trend, another brand, or another item that looks interesting. Personal style is not necessarily about owning the largest amount of clothing. It is about knowing what makes you feel comfortable and confident.

Today, I see fashion as something that continues to evolve with me. The clothes I wear now may be very different from the clothes I will want to wear several years from now, and I am okay with that. Style changes because people change. Our environments, experiences, interests, and confidence can all influence how we present ourselves.

When I think about the child who hated going into clothing stores with his mother, it is interesting that fashion eventually became something I genuinely cared about. What once felt frustrating became a way for me to experiment and express myself. Through different fashion phases, arguments over clothing, and probably far too many packages arriving at the door, I slowly developed a stronger understanding of what personal style means to me.

For me, fashion is ultimately a creative outlet. It allows me to communicate parts of myself without having to explain them directly. My style is still changing, and I do not think there will ever be one final version of it. That is what I enjoy about fashion. It gives me the freedom to keep experimenting, changing, and expressing who I am.

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By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major minoring in Digital Studies. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future.

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For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students

Growing up, I was not very interested in social media because I did not have a phone until I was twelve, only a month away from turning thirteen which was the Iphone 8 Plus. Before social media became part of my life, I was in love with painting. Painting gave me a way to express myself without worrying about how other people would react. I could choose the colors, create different images, and let my imagination guide me. There were no likes, comments, views, or followers attached to what I created. I painted because I enjoyed it, not because I wanted attention or approval from other people.

Getting my first phone changed the way I spent my free time. Shortly after I got it, I downloaded Snapchat and quickly became attached to the app. At that age, having a phone felt exciting because it gave me access to a completely different world. I could communicate with friends, take pictures, post about my day, and see what everyone else was doing. Social media became one of my main forms of entertainment, but I did not yet understand how strongly it could influence my confidence, behavior, and sense of privacy.

When I was in middle school, I would constantly post on Snapchat. I sometimes spammed my story with pictures, random thoughts, videos, and updates about my life. At the time, I did not think much about who was watching or how people might respond. I was still young and did not fully understand that once something is shared online, other people can screenshot it, save it, send it around, or talk about it without my knowledge. I treated social media like a personal diary, even though it was being viewed by many different people.

Because I posted so frequently, I became exposed to judgment at a young age. People could form opinions about me based on a short video, an awkward picture, or something I posted without thinking. Middle school is already a difficult time because many young people are trying to fit in and understand who they are. Social media can make that experience even harder because every mistake or embarrassing moment has the potential to become public. Instead of simply experiencing an awkward phase privately, young people may feel as though they are performing their lives in front of an audience.

The pressure did not always come from direct comments. Sometimes it came from noticing who viewed my story, who responded, or who ignored what I posted. Social media can train people to search for validation through numbers and reactions. A person may begin to wonder why one post received more attention than another or why certain friends did not respond. Even when nobody says anything negative, the silence can still make someone question themselves. Entertainment stops being harmless when it begins controlling how a person feels about their appearance, friendships, or self-worth.

My need for validation became especially noticeable on Instagram. After posting a photo or story, I would repeatedly check the app, sometimes every few seconds, to see whether I had received any new likes or views. Instead of posting something and moving on with my day, I became obsessed with watching the numbers increase. The amount of engagement I received could affect my mood and influence how I felt about myself. If a post did not receive as many likes as I expected, I would wonder whether people disliked the photo or were judging me.

I would also spend long periods reviewing my own profile and replaying old Instagram stories. Sometimes, I would look through stories from six months earlier and repeatedly stare at the list of people who had liked or viewed them. It was almost as though I was trying to relive the attention I had received during that moment. Rather than enjoying a memory for what it was, I focused on how other people had reacted to it. Looking back, I realize that I was placing too much importance on numbers that did not truly measure the quality of my life, my appearance, or my relationships.

This behavior showed me how social media can turn ordinary moments into performances. I was no longer only taking pictures because I wanted to remember an experience. I was also thinking about whether the picture was attractive enough to post, how many people would respond, and whether it would make my life appear interesting. Social media made it difficult to separate genuine memories from the desire to be seen and validated by an audience.

Social media also creates pressure to constantly show that something is happening in your life. People often post vacations, parties, relationships, achievements, expensive purchases, and exciting experiences. They rarely show the boring, lonely, uncomfortable, or disappointing parts of their lives. As a result, it can become easy to compare your complete life to somebody else’s carefully selected highlights. Even though I understood that people were only showing certain moments, seeing these posts could still influence how I viewed my own life.

Another issue was that I did not understand the importance of privacy. When I was younger, I believed that sharing everything helped people know me. As I became older, I realized that not everyone deserves access to every part of my life. Privacy is not the same as hiding or being dishonest. Privacy can be a form of protection. It gives people the opportunity to experience emotions, relationships, accomplishments, and difficult moments without immediately turning them into content.

It took me years to understand this lesson. After using Snapchat for approximately eight years, I eventually deleted it. Deleting an app that had been part of my daily routine for so long was a major decision. Snapchat had been present throughout much of my teenage life, so removing it meant changing a habit that had become normal to me. I no longer wanted to feel pressured to document every moment, maintain streaks, or constantly check what other people were doing.

Deleting Snapchat did not erase every insecurity or completely remove social media from my life. However, it helped me become more aware of my relationship with technology. I started thinking more carefully about why I was posting and what I hoped to receive from it. Was I sharing something because it was meaningful to me, or was I looking for attention? Was I enjoying an experience, or was I mainly thinking about how it would appear online? These questions helped me recognize that entertainment should add something positive to my life instead of taking control of it.

Entertainment itself is not necessarily harmful. Social media, television, movies, music, and other forms of media can help people relax, learn, connect, and feel understood. Social media can introduce people to new ideas and communities that they may not have access to in their everyday lives. It can help artists share their work, small businesses reach customers, and people stay connected across long distances. The problem begins when entertainment becomes an obsession or replaces creativity, real-life communication, and personal reflection.

Looking back, I sometimes think about the difference between painting and posting online. Painting allowed me to create something slowly and privately. Social media encouraged me to react quickly and share immediately. Painting taught me patience, while social media often encouraged instant gratification. One activity was focused on creating for myself, while the other sometimes made me focus too much on how I would be perceived by others.

This does not mean that I have to completely reject technology to reconnect with the person I was before getting a phone. Instead, I can create healthier boundaries. I can choose what I share, limit the time I spend scrolling, and remind myself that I do not need to document everything. I can also make space for hobbies that do not involve an audience. Painting, writing, walking, reading, or simply spending time alone can be meaningful even when nobody else sees them.

My experience taught me that entertainment has the power to shape a person’s habits and identity, especially when they are young. At twelve years old, I did not understand that downloading one app could influence the way I communicated, viewed privacy, and searched for validation. Now, I understand that I have more control over what I consume and what I allow other people to see.

Deleting Snapchat after eight years represented more than removing an application from my phone. It represented growth. I was letting go of the belief that I needed to constantly update other people about my life. I began recognizing that some of the most important moments do not need to be photographed, posted, or explained. They can simply be experienced.

Entertainment will always influence society, but we can decide how much influence it has over our individual lives. Social media can be a useful tool, but it should not determine our confidence or replace our sense of identity. Learning to protect my privacy and become more intentional about what I share has helped me develop a healthier relationship with the online world. I am still learning, but I now recognize that my life does not become more valuable simply because other people can see it.

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By Aaron Newman

Aaron Newman is an Education Studies major minoring in Digital Studies. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he writes about relationships, entertainment and fashion. He also writes about the hardship and being optimistic about his struggles and looking forward to the present and future.

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For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.