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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Wow, though I feel for you, I am benefiting greatly from this thread and thank you and others for the suggestions. I have a "twin" son, though younger, so this is like a view into his likely future and fills me with even more anxiety. We are experiencing a similar situation though re internships and summer jobs while my son is in college (doing extremely well academically in a prestigious engineering program). I thought he would find his tribe within the engineering school. I though professors or project team members would help steer him to opportunities. I don't know if he has met a soul he could call a friend (has a few from home), whether he has joined any maker clubs, eng societies, support groups, etc. All was virtual last year. He just seems to study (he enjoys) and eat - stopped exercising. I would bet he is lonely but he would never tell me anything personal like that. He ignores my suggestions to try to find research positions, work study,  a co-op for a semester, internship, or just volunteering to gain work experience...the career center is very close by. I mention the events on campus that highlight clubs, career fairs and the like to no avail.

How did your son end up with his internship? Did he pursue it on his own? My son has had summer jobs in the past and seems to get on fine once there. I had to facilitate him securing those jobs, however. Last summer I left it up to him and he didn't try as far as I can tell. He took online classes and helped out at home. A coach sounds like a great idea, but I have no idea where to secure one that he will listen to. [/quote]

My son went to a small, not prestigious college where his professors got to know him well and encouraged him to apply for various internships and research projects. He did extremely well in college where he had lots of support and accommodations. He has test anxiety so he was able to take tests in a quiet room. In grad school he had no accommodations. We tried to get them, but his diagnosis was too old, and they wouldn't accept it. It would have taken too long to get another diagnosis, and he was already at grad school, so we never pursued it. I'd assumed he'd manage grad school OK, but I think the support he had in college was key to his success.

Please post if you figure out where to find a coach. I think that would help DS a lot. He needs non-parental support and encouragement, I believe. [/quote]

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