Camille Torres-Kelly

One example of a unique advantage my neurodiversity gives me is the ability to make connections that others might not notice. For example, in my college classes, I would find connections between subjects such as Pos-Colonial African literature and the Greek myth of Arachne because a lot of the African literature we read touched upon the meaning of being a creator. The definitions of creativity given to us by the authors (for example, stating that a creator tells the truth even if it hurts them) reminded me of how Arachne the weaver wove a tapestry depicting the flaws of the gods and being punished for it by getting transformed into a spider. I have also made connections that are less academic and more practical. For example, when I was a Summer Camp Counselor at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, I made the connection between attachment theory and the behavior of nervous students who acted unusually because they were away from their parents. I used this connection to try a strategy designed for easing shy campers into having fun, such as bringing in a small toy that was pleasant to touch and provoked imagination.