Hello, fellow FGB’ers!

Hello, fellow FGB’ers!

I can’t explain how happy I am!

This group has played an extremely positive role throughout a particularly difficult chapter in my life, and I want to share some life-changing news.

I am an individual who is on the spectrum and have spent most of my life continuously trying to hide anything that might make me seem different. I tried so hard to fit into a mold because that's what was expected of me.

My job paid very well, and I was thankful for that, but it was also a stressful job where I was definitely undervalued, did the work of like 3 people, and let’s just say the culture was "outdated.”

In 2021, I was the victim of a crime, and everything about my life fell apart.

I witnessed firsthand the kinds of issues people face with our ineffective justice system.

The things that were done to me were horrible; however, being discriminated against and having people refuse to acknowledge me was just as bad.

It is a long story; there isn’t any simple way to explain what all happened, but I lost my job, my home, and everything I ever worked for.

I had no choices left, so I began to fight to create my own. I made a plan, and I stuck to it no matter what.

For two years, while living with a relative, I learned, studied, and worked to gain the skills I needed to succeed in a career that would give me options and that I was passionate about. I wanted more out of life, and I wasn’t going to stop until I got to where I needed to be.

I could see the “finish line" and was so close. Then, in November 2023, before I finished establishing the foundation I needed, things fell apart again.

It was devastating, and I felt defeated and lost, but I refused to give up.

I didn't know how, but I was going to finish!

I contacted every place I could find. I thought there had to be some sort of resource—from the state, nonprofits, churches, goodwill, Catholic charities, and so many more. I sent well over 1,000 emails, to which only 5 responded to let me know they were sorry and were unable to help due to a lack of resources.

So, for the last 6 months, I have lived in the corner of a dining room and have been sleeping on the floor at someone's house (a friend's cousin that my old neighbor's sister went to school with, or something like that).

While I am very grateful, the conditions I have been living in are… I don’t even have a word for it.

I don't want to sound ungrateful. My only other option would be to be out in the elements, so I am very grateful. I have also had WIFI, which was the one thing I needed to learn and move forward and progress.

The floors have holes, the sinks are falling in, and other areas are just crumbling. There are rodents, leaks, no heat or air, and filth is everywhere. All I have eaten in 6 months are pre-processed packaged foods, and I have been unable to exercise because this is a bad neighborhood.

So, I have been locked in this sedentary way of existing; armed with only my laptop and a few changes of clothes, I have slept and worked every day from the floor of this unfamiliar corner. But I stayed locked-in on my goals, driven by a sense of urgency and determination like my life depended on it—because it does.

I wanted to give up. I even thought about it a few times, but I didn’t. There were moments when I had to live life one minute at a time. There have been times I wanted to scream, run, disappear, implode, or do anything but keep going on like this. But I didn't. I remained in this spot, moving forward.

I can’t begin to explain what this has been like.

BUT NOW, IT IS ALMOST OVER!!! All my hard work and sacrifice is about to pay off! After four amazing virtual rounds of interviews, I have been invited to the final one!

After receiving the invitation, a recruiter and a manager both basically told me it was a formality, that I was going to be extended an offer, and that everyone was excited to work with me.

THE BEST PART?! They know that I am on the spectrum, and they want me anyway! They invested the time to get to know me as an analyst and a person!

Somehow, this feels like permission to live, like I will really be able to live for the first time. For so long, I wanted more out of life—the ability to contribute to something bigger than myself and a career that I could be passionate about. - That is all I ever wanted! I am going to finally be accepted for who I am and have the ability to live without hiding or masking who I am.

Since 2021, everything around me has been painful, lonely, and filled with heartache, but it is almost over now. I am so excited and grateful, and for the first time in a long time, I feel capable and proud of myself!

I am SO CLOSE! Soon, I will be able to sleep in a bed again and have a clean home where I can be safe and healthy.

Even more, when I reach that point, my baby sister will be coming to live with me again. She just graduated college and is on the spectrum as well, and I want to make sure she has the encouragement and support that I did not and never feels the need to live her life hiding the amazing person that she is!

Every night I dream about sleeping in a bed again, eating real food, and being with my sister. I can’t wait!

As amazing as this is, I am worried about the transition ahead.

This position is 100% virtual, with the exception of one mandatory orientation and training visit. I will have to fly there for 3–4 days (expenses paid by the company, of course).

All I have are a few t-shirts and a pair of shorts and jeans—nothing that is in any way appropriate, and I have to find a way to get at least a couple of decent outfits.

The biggest issue of all is that the people who live in this house argue frequently, drink quite a bit every day, and are so extremely loud.

I have been so worried about getting to this point that I haven't thought about not having an appropriate area to conduct business, and I am so scared that this will put me in an unprofessional situation.

I tried to get a loan so I could stay in an extended stay hotel until I earned a couple of paychecks, but I was unsuccessful.

I am unsure of what to do, but I have gotten this far, and I believe things will work out somehow. I just have to push forward and stay positive. I finally have hope, and I know that all of my hard work is about to pay off.

There were times I didn't think I could get this far, but I did, and

The advice and encouragement I received from some of you has kept me going, but it is more than that. Just knowing that FGB exists and that I can always come here and engage with respectful, driven professionals and all-around great people who have a genuine desire to succeed and help one another through valued perspectives and advice has been beyond valuable to me.

The two minutes it takes to leave advice for someone might seem small or insignificant from one end, but you never know what it means to the person on the other side. It might be the boost they need to keep going.

The people that make up FGB have been a source of hope and have provided the connection I needed to survive this. I love this group, and I am so thankful for the individuals that make up FGB. I am forever grateful for your support and encouragement. It means more to me than you will ever know.

I wanted to share this with all of you and express my gratitude.

Thank you so much.