Dear Karyn

I am encouraged by your post “I hear You!” because I can relate to the various things you’ve said. I have not listened to my parents about everything they’ve said which does show room for openness. Just as you have learned to better yourself from your experiences I am working to do the same thing.

One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is “In school, I was always uninterested in history and I limited myself to learning”. I think this is insightful because during my classes I need to remember that I’m in control of what I make of them.

Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because you seem very relatable. I would love to see what other life experiences you will share that others can also find value in.

Dear Karyn

I am filled with joy by your post, “I Hear You!” because the subject of being open to listening and learning through other people is very often overlooked in daily life. Countless times I have been in situations where if I had just listened to others, I may have been able to avoid numerous consequences. As you’ve said, more often than not, we are lectured by our parents and warned about treading down harmful paths, yet we do not truly listen; in one ear, out the other. However, you represent the possibility of growth.

“There are so many things that I wonder about now that are little big questions.” You learned to explore; to no longer limit yourself to what you expect is within your scope of comprehension. This is very important because, as I said before, you represent the possibility of growth. To be able to free yourself from self-imposed limits is amazing.

Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because it seems you are very knowledgeable and a good person to learn from. I wish you luck and hope that you grow into who you wish to become, just as you have inspired me to do.

Sebastian

Dear Karyn,

I am amused with your post, “I Hear You!” because I too agree with idea of people listening to you vs. them understanding. I feel like there is an extent to where people can try to understand what you are saying, but never will they be in the same situation as you, and that’s where it becomes tricky.

One sentence that you wrote that stood out for me is, “Sometimes you have to ask if they’re looking for a solution or just want to be heard.” This is because some will appreciate you trying to put yourself in their shoes and trying to resolve whatever it is your’re going through while others will be frustrated at the fact you will never truly feel or understand because it is not happening to you. Although many see too little effort make it seem as if you don’t care and too much. make it seem like you’re doing too much and you do not know how difficult it is to understand is a major obstacle that can be hard to read when it comes to different people. Not only that but the situation they are facing.

Thank you for your intriguing writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next, because I found this post very relatable to some experiences I have faced before. In a sense this post brought all my assumptions true because now I know I am not the only one who noticed this when it came to listening and being listened to.

Yaslin

Dear Karyn:
I am intrigued with your post, “Description of a Child,” because I have never directly interacted with a child like Kayden. He seems fascinating and eager to learn. He is a unique child in the sense that he needs to have things scheduled to complete them.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “When Kayden is talking to you he needs you to look at him so he knows you are listening. If you don’t look at him he will grab your face and turn it towards him” I think this can become troublesome because other kids may not understand Kayden enough to know that he does not mean harm by this. 
Another sentence that I found unique was: “The games he plays on his iPad are majority educational.” This stood out for me because it shows that what kids begin watching from a young age may be what they carry with them while growing up.
Have you seen this article, https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/repetitive-behaviors-and-stimming-in-autism-explained/ ? I thought you might be interested in this because it explores the idea of “stimming” in kids on the spectrum and discusses in detail how this act of repetition may actually cause more problems later in life. 
Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because you seem to think outside of the box and come up with stimulating ideas and scenarios. 

Dear Karyn:
I am very curious in regards to his behavior knowing that he is on the spectrum because I can imagine how difficult some situations may arise. However, I am glad he is able to make friends and that by now you know what works best for him such as when you mentioned he is better off sitting with other students who keep on task so he too could do the same. One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is: “Kayden is very particular about the music or sounds he wants to listen to. If you don’t hit the nail on the head he progressively gets more irritated. If by the 3rd try you have not gotten it right it causes an outburst.” I think this stood out because sometimes for students expressing themselves is not as easy, let alone if he is on the spectrum. Another sentence that caught my attention was,“Kayden thrives off of routines. If there is something that needs to get done but he gives you a hard time all you need to do is set an alarm. When the alarm rings he’s eager to complete the task at hand. This stood out for me because I think this is amazing. I feel that if he is prepared then he knows what to expect. Have you seen this video https://youtu.be/gZqV6bf8W58 ? I thought you might be interested in this because you mentioned he gets irritated and this video focuses briefly on how to manage challenging behaviors. Of course, I know it’s not as extensive but I thought it might enlighten you. Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because you were very detailed and straightforward.

Dear Karyn
I am impressed by your post, “Kayden: Description of a Child” because Kayden’s interactions and interests are  pretty impressive and interesting. I think it’s really cool how he can make friends rather quickly and easily. 

One sentence that you wrote that stands out to me is,” When the alarm rings, he’s eager to complete the task at hand.” I think this is impressive because not a lot of people older than him can complete the task at hand quick enough like him. 

Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because this post was really fun to read and awesome to explain what he can or can’t do. I like the description to each category. 

Karen