“You can’t do this”. “You won’t graduate high school let alone get into a college”. If these endless series of discouraging words have followed you through your life, most of us would buy into the negativity and be discouraged enough to eventually prove them right. Brianna faced these negative and discouraging words growing up but that did not deter her. She broke the false limitations others had placed on her abilities. She not only finished high school but also attended college and through her sincerity and hard work earned her bachelor’s degree. Brianna made herself proud once again by also earning her master’s degree in social work. Today she is confidently working as an experienced mental health practitioner. She has presented her experiences and inspirational life story of overcoming adversity at TEDxUWRiverFalls and has authored the book Autism Is Not My Name. We are proud of Brianna’s strong determination and wonderful accomplishments.

Can you tell us more about your job? What is best thing you love about your job?B: My current job is with the Associated Clinic of Psychology here in Minneapolis, Minnesota and technically I am considered a Mental Health Practitioner. Now this position is super complex, and is individualized to each staff member, but for me it includes four basic positions within the umbrella of MHP: ARMHS worker, Individual/family therapist, Team Lead for Somali Services and the Employee engagement committee. For my ARMHS worker (Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Service) position, I am tasked with teaching independent living skills, along with teaching skills surrounding symptom management to clients who have severe mental health concerns within their own homes. This looks like teaching them ways to reduce their anxiety, get into a healthy housing situation, and manage communications with County services. My therapist position is the complete opposite, in which I assist clients with their emotional processing needs. This is basically what you see on a typical TV portrayal of a therapy service. I go to the deepest and darkest parts of the client’s past, present, and future concerns and assist them with finding ways to process and get their lives to stability, whatever that means for them.

How great did it feel to get your college degrees? What was the most memorable part of your journey?B: Now, this is a very difficult question!
When I received my BSW (Bachelor of Social Work), I felt like I had reached the top of a mountain full of pain and strife and that I was finally able to look at the beautiful scenery that surrounded me. All I had heard until that point was “you can’t do this”, “you won’t graduate high school let alone get into a college”, and “you should just get used to the fact that you’ll never change”. When I received my diploma that day, the words on my graduation cap rang true: THEY WERE WRONG.
I have many more memorable parts of my college and Master’s degree journey then I can even count. A substantial moment in my college career was in 2011. My grandfather had just died after years of illness, I was being treated very poorly by a group of “friends”, I was very unsatisfied with my teaching degree path, and life was just not fun or enjoyable at that point-I felt so alone and degraded, and was on the edge of giving up. But shortly before my grandfather passed away, I met my best friend Jared at the library, which really changed the course of friendships and how I could begin to love myself and my story without restrictions or limitations. After my breaking point that Spring, I decided that I was going to stay alive. I decided that I was going to work on myself and find what brings me joy. The last memory I will mention here is when I walked into my first Social work class: for the first time I didn’t have to work harder than everyone else to get the same grade. Social work and caring for others came naturally to me, and so these classes were fun and exciting instead of dreadful reminders of how I cannot understand or learn the way others do.
One of my favorite memories from my Master’s journey happened before school was even in session. My undergrad professors started discussing grad school as an option for those who wanted to continue their education, but then also portrayed multiple options of what jobs could be found at the bachelor level. One day, a representative from the University of MN came to our class and discussed their program, and my mind started to think ‘what if?’. I checked out their program requirements, and as soon as I saw that I could get my Masters in 12 months I was on board. When the application opened, I still struggled with that decision. All the thoughts, comments and reminders of how I couldn’t do it popped up in my head and it was a really hard battle to silence those thoughts and to listen to my heart. A few days passed, and I just had this realization- I will only apply to the UMN, and if I get in great. If I don’t, I’ll go find a new dream, so it lets do this. I turned in the application, and even with a recommendation letter spewing nothing but negativity, I still got in. That was my favorite memory of that year, but you asked for my most memorable so that is below!
My most memorial part of my Master’s journey was being selected to present at their graduation at the end of the year. I was given the opportunity, as selected by my fellow students, to present not only the ceremony but to give a speech at the end. Now the speech went terribly in my eyes, but even to be selected was the best. Also, my favorite parts were receiving my degree in the mail along with my Board-certified license, so I could finally call myself an official social worker was an amazing feeling.

What inspired you to write your book Autism Is Not My Name?B: It started out as an owner of Publishizer reaching out to me to see if I would be interested in writing, and it had always been a dream of mine to share my story on a larger network to let those know on the spectrum that they are not alone. Then the idea of sharing stories of those who live these daily lives came to mind. For someone on the Autism spectrum, we are always told how our lives are supposed to look like, what we should be going through, and how we should interpret the world. I want to give others the ability to speak their own truths, instead of others speaking FOR them and ABOUT them at all times. A lot of the time, people forget that we are our own humans with thoughts, interpretations, feelings, and emotions that need to be shared with the world- I want to be the person who give those on the spectrum that opportunity.

What are the 2 things you wish to learn and why?B: The first thing I want to learn is the in’s and outs of the human service division of each county in Minnesota and the mental health system in different states since it would provide so much clarity to my work and would help me be able to help my clients even more than I can right now.
I also want to continue to learn and learn new ways of navigating Asperger’s disorder. I feel like my past experiences and teachings have helped me excel over the past several years, but the following question is what I want to learn the answer to: How does and/or how will my Asperger’s change as I get older?

Who is your inspiration?B: Honestly, I do not have a certain person who inspires me. I mean my eldest sister, best friend, and Grandfather are huge inspirations of mine, but the entity that gives me the most inspiration is sharing stories. Whether its with one of my clients, with a friend in a library hallway, or through a Facebook message, sharing stories is how we accumulate and assign power to what is meaningful to us. Stories also are a way to pass down traditions, teach young children about life obstacles, but most importantly it shows show we are all on the same side. Stories bring people together, and that is the highest entity of inspiration to me.

What do you like to do when you are with your family/friends?B: One new family tradition that has been started within the past year is having family day. My three siblings, myself, my parent’s, and the family dogs all get together on Sunday afternoon for stories, laughs, doggie playtime, and dinner. During these experiences we have a carefree, no expectations, afternoon and it has turned into the time I love and treasure most with my family.
Unfortunately, I do not have many friends that currently live in the state of Minnesota. For instance, my best friend and I have lived in different states for about six years. But we are able to keep our friendship growing by having weekly phone calls and trips out to see one another every six months. With the few friends I have here in MN, I do anything and everything we can in the busyness of our lives. I recently started playing on Broomball and Volleyball leagues to meet new friends, but with the ones who have been around awhile we go to tea shops, out to dinner, lay around and watch Netflix, have game nights and literally anything else you can think of in between. I hold my friends very close to my heart, and when we spend time together it turns my day into a great one no matter where I was at before use meeting up.

Can you give tips/advice for those in our community who want to pursue higher education?B: The biggest advice I can give is just to go for it. Shoot for your dreams, and do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. So many of the decisions that changed the course of my life were due to taking on challenging opportunities that were given to me with a thought process of “sure, why not?” These decisions led to my TED talk, a few other speaking engagements, beginning the process of writing this book, going to graduate school and now wanting to go for my Doctorate, and so many more.
Do not be afraid to say why not. Because if you do not take those opportunities when they are given or offered, then you will look back and ask yourself- what if?
Also, demand more. Demand what you need from family members, friends, service providers, teachers, mentors, and everyone else. You have a point of view that is respected and loved- share that with others in whatever ways you can. Do not let others assert your needs for you- shout your needs on the mountain and watch how those who matter will mold to give you just what you asked for.

Any special message for our community?B: You are not alone. More and more people are being diagnosed on the spectrum every day. There is someone out there, closer than you think who is having some of the challenges you face. Actively work to go find them. Share stories, battle wounds, coping skills, and friendships because I promise you that going through these challenges is one thing, but going through them on your own is much different.
Also, do not be afraid for your story. You have a unique story, and even though the spectrum is ever growing we all are different ticks on the line. Everyone is going to experience their symptoms differently, and each one of those experiences is valid and worthy. Share your story, speak for yourself, and know that the real people will always be there for you, and ask if you want to leave when it gets too loud!