I put my parents through hell "assuming no news is good news" during the nine years it took me to graduate from college.
When I was kicked out of college the first time (for fighting with a teaching assistant, among other things) my parents were so worn down by my cluelessness they didn't even ask.
I started college as an engineering major. The first thing I noticed was the lack of women in my classes. I wasn't comfortable hanging out with guys who only seemed to talk about cars and "babes" so my third year I changed my major to biology.
My grandfather was extremely disappointed. He wanted me to be an engineer. He was an Army Air Corp officer during World War II and later an engineer for the Apollo Project. Bits of exotic metal he made took men to the moon and back. He was successful in his profession but his personal life was always a flaming catastrophe. He was definitely on the autistic spectrum but had played his "eccentric genius" card as best he was able.
I think this world can only be a better place when we recognize and celebrate human diversity from the color of our skin, our sex and sexuality, and our own perception of ourselves as social beings.
A society that doesn't torture people who are "different" can accomplish miracles.
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