I am Jake

"My autism is the reason I'm in college and I'm successful. It's the reason I care," Jacob Barnett, 16-year old physicist

Autism Unveiled Week 6

jacob-barnett

I am sixteen years old. I’m a researcher at Perimeter Institute in Waterloo. I completed the PSI program last year, a Master’s level program in theoretical Physics.

I’m very happy to be Autistic. Autism is my way of thinking, my way of viewing the world. It’s because of my autism I’m able to do what I do best.

I don’t consider myself to be a genius. I consider myself to be a regular person who is very dedicated to my subject.

In order to succeed you must think in your own unique perspective way. I had to STOP LEARNING. That is why I believe I do what I do today. My autism is the reason I’m in college and I’m successful. It’s the reason I care.

There are some things I’m not good at. I take it as a challenge. Just because it’s harder, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

Jacob Barnett, Ontario, Canada

Jacob recently won the Premio Assoluto award for Science from the Vatican. He has been called “one of the most promising young physicists of our time.”

Jacob and his mom can be seen on this show talking about Jacob’s journey.

Jacob is part of the Autism Unveiled Project – 6 weeks of posts by Autistic people commencing on April 2, 2015, World Autism Awareness Day.

One reply on “I am Jake”
  1. says: Jessie Male

    Hi Jake,
    Thank you for sharing the work you are doing. You note that you “don’t consider [yourself] a genius, but the title of your mother’s book is ” A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism.” Does she view you differently than you view yourself?

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