# From babysitting to retail, to front desk at a hotel, I've had many jobs. My favorite job was the seasonal work I did at a local park where there were kiddie rides, concessions, and the best ice-cream in town. My least-favorite job was the server job I did at Applebee's. Strangely enough, even though I also worked at a movie theater and got to see everything for free, I still liked the park better. The retail job at a clothing store wasn't bad and neither was the front desk position. But, I was never in my element like I was when I became assistant manager at the park. That leadership role was ideal for the kind of person I am. I got to call the shots...yes, I'm one of those autistic people who was called "bossy" a lot as a child. Unfortunately, seasonal work isn't exactly something you can make a career out of. I worked there for 5 summers. I was shift manager for my third summer and assistant manager for my fourth and fifth summer. After my fourth summer, I took the server job at Applebee's for the off-season and it the most difficult job I ever had. I couldn't figure out why, though. I'd done so well in all my other jobs but this one just wouldn't click for me. I used a lot of the same skills that I did at the park...taking food orders, customer service, etc. Why did I suck so bad at being a server? I only lasted 6 months and by the end of it, I was in debt because I had to put everyday expenses like food on a credit card. My wages, tips included, only paid my rent and utilities. Every shift, I had the lowest tips and I couldn't figure out why. I was trying so hard. Now, I know. Being autistic made me really bad at being a server. The noisy environment would throw me off-track and I'd forget minor things like a cup of ranch because I couldn't hear myself think. I constantly felt like I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off because the overstimulating environment would distract me. I couldn't find the right rhythm for checking on tables, putting in orders, and then delivering food. And I didn't make eye-contact with the customers. I smiled and tried to do small talk, but eye-contact was definitely minimal. This job was torture, but I didn't realize why until almost 15 years later when I self-diagnosed as autistic. Now, I work from home. It's something I started doing after my second child was born. I started as a virtual assistant with gigs on fiverr, then eventually transitioned into graphic and web design. Running my own business as a solo-freelancer is probably the smartest thing I've ever done. It was difficult to get it going, to find the clients and make real progress, but I've been doing it for 10 years now and I make almost as much as my husband while working fewer hours.