Personal Narrative: My Child With ADHD

As a young child, it was always evident that I was different. I approached problems differently, spoke differently, reacted differently. However, my parents never assumed I had ADHD, because I loved to read. I would sit down, and hyperfocus into a book, blocking out everything else. They thought that surely, a child with ADHD couldn't do that. Therefore, I spent my entire childhood struggling to keep up with my peers. Simple tasks were harrowing, because I lacked the focus they required. I was labeled a "trouble child" because I wouldn't do as told. It wasn't that I refused to do what was expected, it was that I simply lacked the attention span to. As I grew older, school became even more of a challenge. Taking tests was especially problematic, …show more content…
Since then, with counseling and medication, I have flourished. My grades improved enough that I was able to get into a public ivy league. Next year I will begin college on a premed track, with the hopes of eventually becoming a doctor, a feat that once seemed impossible. I now tutor younger students, participate on an art team, coach middle school volleyball, and work as a CNA. Throughout these things I can help others, which is incredibly rewarding to me. I finally can truly feel proud of who I've become and the progress I have made. Understanding ADHD has helped me learn tools to make my life easier, and I have even found my ADHD to be advantageous in certain situations. I believe that I have been as successful as I have been, because of my ADHD, not in spite of it. It has taught me the value of hard work and perseverance, forced me to accept and learn from my failures, and helped ignite an inextinguishable desire to succeed. Life with ADHD isn't easy, however, with the proper tools and motivation, I've been able to overcome the challenges this disorder brings, and I know that I can continue to overcome them and be successful, against all