Krissthian Tenasi

Language: Spanish

My name is Krissthian, and I am autistic.
Since I was very young, I have seen the world differently.
As a child, I struggled to adapt to many things. I had difficulties with sleep, and I went through a period when I could be very oppositional. That made many situations challenging—not only for me, but also for the people around me.

At an early age, I was diagnosed with Level 1 Autism. That was the beginning of a journey that included occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and educational support. Today, I recognize that thanks to those therapies and the people who supported me along the way, I am who I am. I also understand the tremendous importance of early intervention.
It was not easy, but little by little, I learned to understand myself better.
I have always been a social person. And when we were finally able to regulate my sleep, everything began to change. I became more attentive in school, and I gradually overcame that challenging stage of my life.

From a young age, I also discovered something that helped me tremendously: art.
I taught myself how to draw by watching YouTube videos, and it became a powerful way for me to express myself. I enjoy video games, chess, photography, and reading—especially when it challenges me to think deeply.
I have a strong memory, and I tend to analyze situations as they happen, always trying to see beyond what is obvious.
The years 2020 and 2021 were incredibly difficult.
I lost my father, and it was a devastating experience for both me and my family. Emotionally, I struggled a great deal.

At the same time, the pandemic and lockdown made everything even harder. Then, in 2021, my brother emigrated, creating even more emotional challenges for our family.
When I was ten years old, my mother talked to me about my diagnosis. It was a life-changing conversation. It helped me understand many things about myself and the journey that had brought me there. I learned about the three different diagnoses my mother had to navigate before finally receiving the right one. Today, I am deeply grateful that she never stopped searching for answers and never settled for the first or second diagnosis.
In 2021, my mother thought it would be a good idea for me to take a junior chef course to help with my sensory challenges.
It worked.

Then, in 2022, she decided it was time for me to face one of my biggest fears. I enrolled in a radio and public speaking course designed for young broadcasters. The goal was to help me work through my stage fright and speech dysfluency.
It became a major turning point because it helped me express myself with greater confidence.

In 2023, my mother and I emigrated, and I had to start over.
A new country. A new school. A new language.
Everything was in English.
The first three months were extremely difficult. I experienced panic attacks and intense anxiety. But with the support of my family and therapists, I gradually moved forward.
I made friends, adapted to my new environment, and joined clubs that helped me grow tremendously.
This year, in March, I took another important step.
I began a course in radio, broadcasting, and podcasting.
It all started through my school’s journalism club.
That is where an idea was born: creating my own podcast.
I already had the name.
I already had the vision.
I just needed the courage to do it.
This experience connected me with many people and helped me discover something important about myself:
I love communicating.
I want to have my own voice within the autism community.
Not only to share my experiences, but also to help other young people like me, support families, and contribute to a broader understanding within society.
My podcast will be called “You Are Not Alone.”

It will be a space where I can talk not only about my experiences and daily life as a neurodifferent person, but also about family, resilience, and the stories of people who have overcome difficult challenges. Stories that can inspire others to keep moving forward.
I consider myself a calm person, although that often depends on the environment around me.

I am empathetic, analytical, and demanding of myself. I do not enjoy conflict, and I prefer being in places where I can be authentically myself.
There are still things I continue to work on, such as not becoming obsessed with the idea of being smarter or knowing more than everyone else.
But I am learning.
I am learning to understand my journey and appreciate my own value.
This year, I am also beginning a new chapter: high school.
I am very interested in forensic science, and it is a field that motivates me to keep learning and growing.

I applied to several magnet schools and was accepted into five of them.
One of those schools is one that I am especially excited about.
That fills me with hope, but also with responsibility, because I know I am entering an important stage of my life.
Today, after everything I have experienced, I feel ready to keep moving forward.
Not perfect.
But growing.
And that is okay.
I am here today because I want to share my story.
Because being different is not something negative.
It is simply another way of seeing the world.
And through my voice, I want to show that every person has something important to say.
In the end, I realized that the more skills I develop and the more influence I gain, the more people I can help.
And I believe that is my purpose:
To help, support, and guide those who need it most.