FIRST PERSON – How I’m Managing High School While Having ADHD

I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a nonverbal learning disability (NVLD).

That’s something that I’ve been working on managing for a few years. Now that I’m in high school, I have a new set of challenges and opportunities to showcase how great I can be.

What are my disabilities?

ADHD is a condition that affects attention and focus.

People with ADHD could struggle with things like forgetfulness, impulsivity and restlessness.

NVLD affects visual-spatial skills and social interaction.

People with an NVLD could struggle with motor skills, social communication or academic performance. For me, I can’t stay focused for long periods of time.

In class, I sometimes zone out and forget what the teacher said.

I have a hard time doing some math skills. For example, I have difficulty solving word problems because of my need to remember what the story is about while trying to solve the problem.

I also have a hard time with paraphrasing, putting my words into writing and understanding feedback and instructions. This affects me in some of my classes.

These disabilities are not a reflection of intelligence.

Many people with ADHD and NVLDs are highly intelligent and capable, but they may need accommodations to help them learn in a way that works for them.

Accommodations can be something like extra time to do the same task, different types of instructions based on someone’s learning style or access to different work environments.

I learned to ask for and get help

Over the past few years, I’ve been learning what these accommodations look like for me.

I have learned ways to organize myself and my work and how to take breaks when I need them.

I find that medication has been helpful.

The medication helps me turn off some of the distractions around me and in my head so that I can focus on what is important.

When I was in elementary school, even though I needed help organizing my thoughts or needing clarification on an assignment, I did not ask for it enough.

I thought I was OK and didn’t need help.

This affected the quality of my work and I realize now how valuable it is to get support and make sure the work I am submitting is my best effort.

When I did not get the support I needed, I felt like even though I was doing the best I could, I wasn’t doing enough or trying hard enough.

Finding ways to manage in high school

As you can imagine when I started high school, I was worried.

High school is much different than middle school in many ways, and I knew it would be challenging to navigate the changes of a bigger school and more work while also managing my disabilities.

But I found a few key ways to help that transition.

Being open with my teachers about my disabilities has been really helpful.

They have been very supportive.

They’ve helped me come up with strategies to manage my workload and my learning style.

For example, I often struggle with written assignments, so my teachers will allow me to submit audio recordings instead.

This helps me communicate my ideas more effectively and reduces my stress levels.

I also have extra time on tests and assignments, which allows me to work at my own pace and avoid feeling rushed.

I’ve learned that it’s important for me to take breaks throughout the day, like taking a walk outside or doing some deep breathing exercises.

My mom has been a champion advocating for me and my brother, who is dealing with the same stuff I am.

She’s been pushing our schools to help us get the resources we need to succeed.

She also has conversations with teachers to make sure what we need for us to do well.

My mom also encourages my brother and me to advocate for ourselves and to know what resources and supports we need.

Now I feel not only heard, but also capable of so much more than I thought before. I feel more confident and have more tools to use when I need them.

The more we understand our strengths and challenges, the more we can speak up for ourselves and do well.

Source:

FIRST PERSON — How I’m managing high school while having ADHD. (2022, November 2). CBC Canada. https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/first-person-how-im-managing-high-school-while-having-adhd