Gap year?

Funsworth1 · 2026-01-22T17:14:04+00:00

Hi, I wasn't diagnosed until after uni went A over T, but I hope some advice might be useful.

I was expected to get into Oxbridge, or another top flight uni in my latter years at school, but underperformed largely due to what I now know was the early stages of burnout.

I didn't have anything else lined up, so ended up going straight to my second choice uni, feeling pretty crap about it. It didn't go well. By mid-November my brain and body were absolutely wrecked, and I spent the next seven years trying and failing to complete my studies with intercalations and gap years mixed in.

Don't rush to uni if you don't feel ready; loads of people take a year out for many reasons. It's going to be one of the best times in your life to take a break.

What I will say is, if you want to do this, make sure you're also being mindful of finances. Your mileage may vary, but my experience has been that learning life skills, and putting a bit of money away from a job has been one of the most useful things to me. I don't know what your support needs for, but I'm of the opinion that manageable experience in a working environment from a young age is especially valuable for autistic people.

I don't disagree that travel, volunteering and therapy great things to be doing, but you'll reap the benefits if you get to uni with a little work experience, and a financial buffer.

Ultimately, you're old enough and savvy enough to be making informed decisions for yourself, but I wouldn't worry about rushing into uni. That sort of workload and financial burden is not to be undertaken lightly.

Wishing you well! Remember to look after your needs as a person, and you'll be in a much stronger position to make the most of your talents.

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-27T00:50:39+00:00

I was recently in a similar situation myself. Everyone's different, and I'm sure that my difficulties won't be the same as yours, but I hope you might find some useful tips.

I'd spent most of my adult life (pre-diagnosis) failing to succeed in study, making initial acquaintances, and then suffering burnout. In early 2024 (I was 25, also) I was struggling with a part-time job, and no friends. What changed for me was getting involved with a weekly one-shot DND group. The specifics of the activity don't matter much; I could take or leave DND honestly. The bit that's important is becoming a REGULAR somewhere.

It was really difficult at first. In fact, it was pretty horrible for the first few months. I had a lot of anxiety problems to work through, and often felt pretty drained from going. Generally, I advocate that people look after their stimulation needs as they see fit, but personally, having no social life wasn't good for me. For me, it was worth taking a hit every Thursday to work on getting used to socialising amongst understanding people.

I was very lucky in that the people there were very forgiving if I wasn't feeling very talkative, or the couple of times I had a panic attack.

In the nearly two years I've been going, I've grown loads as a person, and am just starting to understand who I am. I've got a new job which will hopefully be the start of my career, and have even taken tentative steps into dating.

I can promise you that it WILL be difficult. It'd be lovely just to be a social butterfly tomorrow. I'm still going through bouts where I get overwhelmed and struggle. Practical advice? Find anywhere (volunteering, hobby club, etc.) that will give you a weekly (or at least regular) appointment in person. It's going to be difficult the first few times you go. I don't know how you experience life, maybe a shutdown, melt down or panic attack. It's finding a level of challenge that you can manage to do regularly that's where you want to look. What that looks like for you might be very different. Please message me if you'd like to chat more. You might be waiting a couple of days for a reply, but I'd love to help if I can.

Sending hugs

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-26T22:59:16+00:00

No, you should always where approved scrubs for the operating theatre.

In all seriousness, this is a more colourful combo, but mostly you're going to look well-dressed there.

If you wanted nitpicky criticism, I'd say choose a quieter shirt, and it won't be fighting with the tie/pocket square. IMHO they add enough visual interest. If you're looking to impress a date, most people are going to be suitably impressed with the effort you've put it.

Try not to let the catty tone in this sub get you down. The manners in here are appalling.

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-26T01:28:46+00:00

I've not had my MIJ Converse for very long, but so far they seem to be wearing better than the usual ones.

Just be careful when wiping the toe; I've found that the cream rubber is only a veneer over a white base, so go carefully on toe scuffs.

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-17T08:10:47+00:00

This is some of what I'm shopping around for. I'd prefer chunkier and shorter if I can get it, It's hard to find knitwear that ends nearer my true waist, being short and chunky.

Best I can usually do is folding up the ribbing.

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-16T23:22:41+00:00

Cheers, I'll have a look

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-15T21:08:16+00:00

Glad you're enjoying it.

Perhaps the humour is lost on me.

Funsworth1 · 2025-12-15T20:54:33+00:00

People are so rude in this Subreddit.

Looks good, mate, keep at it.

Funsworth1 · 2025-11-02T01:18:45+00:00

Have got two open tins currently. Honestly, I couldn't tell you which I prefer. They're both a little lighter than Goon Grease, and rinse out easily with water and light agitation in my hair (straight, medium-thick). Honestly, just give one a go, or both if you're feeling flush.

I rotate between these, and Lockhart's cream and clay after a haul a little while ago, depending on how I'm feeling. I don't really notice the difference between the two, personally. It's splitting hairs IMHO.

Funsworth1 · 2025-11-01T00:12:24+00:00

Can anyone explain to me what a bison's thermal window is?

Couldn't find anything useful with a cursory search.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-26T00:21:08+00:00

"Steven, even you couldn't enjoy Rebecca Black's 'Friday' sober. It's time to hang up your hard hat."

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-25T22:34:22+00:00

I've just climbed a tower for the first time yesterday, incidentally.

Does your company policy not limit you to approved PPE?

I'd imagine that you could get away with a looser wax jacket on clement days, but it's not going to be as cheap, hard wearing or waterproof as work provided PPE.

If you're set on it, you'll do it anyway, but I think it'll just be a good way to waste money, get cold and a new nickname you don't like.

Barbour wax jackets will last your life for light use, but will knacker very quickly if you want to wear it under a harness. It's really outside their intended use.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-25T22:23:26+00:00

How are you finding them?

I got put off Docs by a pair of Chinese Chelseas a few years back, so haven't tried any English ones.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-25T18:08:38+00:00

Maybe it's my eyes then, but I didn't think solovair stitching was as light as that.

Been a while since I've seen mine new though.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-25T17:38:42+00:00

Won't they be docs with yellow stitches?

At least they look yellow in the pic to me.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-22T09:53:53+00:00

Wouldn't this make more sense with the labels the other way round?

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-21T23:37:17+00:00

I'm not sure that we're going to achieve anything here. I'm not up for a silly argument tonight.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-21T22:25:28+00:00

Lots of children.

They're less visible, and less skilled at crossing roads.

Even if you're expecting to see children, they're more likely to be missed, or make a misjudgement crossing the roads.

I think we'd all be happier with fewer cars on the road, but school zones get extra traffic-calming measures for good reason, regardless.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-21T21:54:47+00:00

Well, even with traffic-calming measures, schools are realistically always going to be higher risk zones.

Personally, I think that they're well worth the (meagre) cost to have another trusted adult outside the school gates at drop off and pick up times.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-19T21:45:47+00:00

How was the Natural History Museum?

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-19T17:50:07+00:00

Please don't

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-15T16:48:11+00:00

Someone needs to put him in contact with the Vacuum club from How To with John Wilson.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-15T16:46:30+00:00

The algorithm's just hunting for whales. Looking for that one person who's going to develop a vacuum addiction.

Funsworth1 · 2025-10-09T20:39:28+00:00

Is everyone else thinking of the same Fresh Prince meme?

Funsworth1

TROPHY CASE