For those who prefer to listen, not read – we have used an AI voice to read Andy’s story here:
Hi, I’m Andy, a fantasy writer in cybersecurity.
Three years in, and I’m still “undercover” — no one suspects a thing!
When I arrived at auticon, no one suspected I was really struggling to keep a job, since I’m so cheerful and love making jokes (mostly about myself!). I may look smart and outgoing, but inside I’m a little bit of a goofball. Still, no one suspects a thing!
But let’s take a small step back.
Before my late diagnosis, I thought I couldn’t handle a normal 9-to-5 job, and I tried to keep up with daily expectations by taking random jobs that didn’t match my university degree. I tried being a photographer, then I took a job as an assistant in a dentist’s office. Later, I found an opportunity with a small dog breeder, where I worked for a while.
Still, I had many challenges I couldn’t explain — neither to myself nor to others.
When I finally got my diagnosis, I felt ready to start over. I applied to auticon, and I was ready to begin my new life as an IT consultant — but… me? In tech?
I’ve always had a strong passion for writing and languages. My childhood hero was Tolkien, who united both my passions in one masterpiece. And now I was about to fool everyone by landing a job in tech? Yeah — but I love being unsuspected 😉
So I worked hard to learn my new job in cybersecurity. It was quite confusing at first, but then I realized I was truly capable of keeping a 9-to-5 job — and, unbelievably, in tech!
I still hold on to my hobbies outside of my job at auticon, though. I write books, and the first of a fantasy saga is about to be published. I’m also a singer. As soon as my daily job ends, I dive into what I call “my second job”: writing and worldbuilding. I also love creating plots for tabletop role-playing games, which take up a good share of my free time.
Before my late diagnosis, I drifted through life like a ship caught in a storm. Now I have a clear path to follow, and at the end of the day, I still have the energy to pursue my hobbies instead of just lying helplessly in bed.
When I picture myself during my daily activities at auticon, I don’t see a tech-savvy autistic girl who speaks in Python or only thinks about numbers (or dinosaurs and trains!). I see a fantasy novelist with a passion for singing and music — who also happens to fight cybercrime by day.
So yeah, I’m still undercover after three years — I just hope no one notices 😉
I hope these words of mine might inspire someone, someday, to pursue both their passions and their career without thinking it’s impossible.
