When you think about the future and the next school year specifically, what one word comes to mind?

I don’t really have a word—it’s more of a mantra: ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES. You can’t prepare for everything that’s going to happen. FLEXIBLE! That is my one word. The best thing you can do is stay flexible.

I know that’s easier said than done, especially for neurodivergent kids who thrive on structure and routine. New isn’t always good when your body relies on familiar patterns. But I’ve learned that keeping an open mind—expecting that classes might be different, that grades might not be what you hope for, that teachers might not meet your expectations—actually hurts less when those things happen.

I’ll be honest—I’ve always had difficulties with flexibility throughout school. I’m a very literal, black-and-white thinker, and that’s made adapting to change really challenging. But it’s something I’ve been working on, and I’m still working on it. It’s not something that comes naturally to me, and I’m definitely not perfect at it. But I believe this is what I need in order to persevere through the next school year, and really, any challenge that comes my way.