Reply to High paying careers for academic kids with poor social skills

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]HFA could very well be in the mix. My inattentive, asocial, ADHD/HFA kid is majoring in international affairs, with a concentration in security policy. He would be an ideal analyst working in an security organization, government agency or think tank, talking with other experts about global or domestic security threats, cyber or actual terrorism, etc.

My husband also has an inattentive, asocial ADHD/HFA profile and has a PhD in bioinformatics. He’s worked in cancer research for many years analyzing large data sets on supercomputers.

The lesson I’ve learned from these two is that they absolutely need to work in topics they’re passionate about. They cannot function in any other sphere. The job will pay what it pays. Maybe you can steer them when they’re young to influence their topics of interest.

I entirely agree that such kids need to be pushed to excel and their weaknesses bolstered as much as possible so that their achievements help counterbalance their poor social skills. At a certain level of functioning and expertise, you’re seen as «quirky » and people will accommodate you somewhat to access what you have to offer. Below that, you’re just seen as plain weird and no one will want to work with you. It takes a lot of work to  develop just enough awareness in that individual so they package themselves this side of crazy.

Sorry to be blunt.[/quote]

Agree! My son, who has inattentive ADHD and struggles socially is exponentially better in situations where strangers share his interest or in activities that he enjoys. We are working in social skills and also basic manners - eye contact, practicing small talk with adults, etc. I am hoping if we hammer basic manners home + he works in a field he is interested in, he will find his way. I will say, we do have to talk about school tracks in context of the ultimate goal.z for example if he wants be a marine biologist, he needs science but also has to work on math so he can figure out depths, etc. Or if he wants to be a guide, how it helps to have a foundation in business and understand a business plan or math for accounting.

I myself am not socially savvy, though more skilled than my son. There are definitely avenues and areas for people to take at all levels of intellectual ability. Obviously not heavily networked positions like lobbyists or consultants. And often being self-employed or an entrepreneur can be a good fit. [/quote]

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