Meet the Emergent Explorer
Imagine discovering in your late teens (or even later!) that your brain works differently than you thought - that's what it's like being an Emergent Explorer! It's like finally finding the user manual for your brain and going "Oh, THAT'S why I do things this way!" This new understanding helps them see their whole life in a fresh light.
Let's Look at Their Brain Style:
(Think of these percentages like discovering ingredients in a recipe you've been cooking for years)
Autism: 50-65% (the main discovery)
ADHD: 45-55%
Dyslexia: 30%
Dysgraphia: 35%
Dyscalculia: 25%
Dyspraxia: 30%
What Makes Them Awesome:
Emergent Explorers are like detectives solving the mystery of their own lives! They're super good at looking back at their experiences and going "Aha! That's why that happened!" Their life experience means they can quickly figure out what works for them.
They're like natural translators between different thinking styles because they've lived in both worlds. Having spent time not knowing they were neurodivergent, they understand both perspectives, which makes them great at helping others understand too.
Think of them as having night vision goggles that suddenly let them see things that were always there but hidden in the dark. They're really good at spotting both the tricky bits and the super cool parts of how their brain works.
Daily Life:
These folks are on this amazing journey of rediscovery - it's like watching their life movie with director's commentary! They're picking up new strategies while keeping the helpful habits they've already built.
At work, they often become awesome advocates for understanding different brain styles. They've got the experience to know how things usually work AND the insight to see how they could work better for everyone.
Their daily routines are like a mix tape of old and new hits - they keep what works from their past while adding cool new strategies they've learned. It's like upgrading your phone but keeping all your favourite apps!
The Tricky Bits:
Finding out your brain works differently later in life can bring up some big feelings. Sometimes they might think "Why didn't anyone notice this sooner?" or "How different would things have been if I'd known?" - and that's totally normal!
Dealing with people who've known them for ages can be complicated. Some folks might not get why they're changing how they do things, while they're trying to figure out who to tell and how much to share.
Unlearning habits they developed to "fit in" can be really hard. It's like trying to stop using your fake "phone voice" - even when you want to be more natural, those old habits can be super sticky!
Room for Growth:
While they're awesome at figuring things out, they might need to remember it's okay to take their time with this journey. You wouldn't speed-run through a new video game - it's cool to explore and take it all in!
Blending their "before" and "after" understanding of themselves takes time. It's like merging two different versions of your character into one awesome upgraded version.
Finding other people who get it can be super helpful. Connecting with both neurodivergent communities and keeping old friendships helps create an awesome support network for their journey.
The Big Picture:
Emergent Explorers bring something really special to the table - they can help bridge the gap between different ways of thinking! Their journey of discovering their neurodivergent identity later gives them unique insights that can help everyone understand each other better. When they embrace their journey while keeping what works from their past, they can do some pretty amazing things!
