You Me and ADHD

"Smart people are a dime a dozen. What matters is the ability to think different... to think out of the box."-Walter Isaacson

So why do I do the work I do...

My ADHD...I had and still do have so many feelings about my "new discovery". I've heard people talk about embracing their "superpower" but I guess my emotions sway more towards grief than embrace. Sounds a bit dramatic right? Well in my case it is honestly how I feel.

I grieve for the younger me. The young girl who was told almost daily by her teachers that she "Won't amount to anything." and "I could do better." There I was, soaking in the judgement, a young girl who spent her whole younger years masking and trying to fit in.

Journeying through secondary school was where I began to believe what I was being constantly told and me being the stubborn version of me I decided that if the shoe fits and if I am going to be judged for my "behaviour" then I may as well fulfil my role to the best of my abilities. Clearly this didn't go down very well in an all girls Catholic School so needless to say they didn't want me there and I was happy to oblige!

School left me damaged, with low self worth which bled into every aspect of my life. I took risks, some very dangerous and damaging. I was impulsive. I let people use me. I was pretty scared of the world despite my "I don't give a s*%t demeanour. It was armour plated protection. I spent so much time in survival mode and fawning my way through young adulthood that I truly didn't know where that little girl went.

So when I hear people talking about having ADHD as being a superpower I am happy for them but for me it was definitely not a good thing. I guess back in the 80's and 90's even if I knew I doubt it would have been taken seriously and I can say with absolute certainty my school would not have been supportive nor inclusive of my needs.

So when people ask me why I do the work I do my answer is for the younger version of me. If I can help just one young person avoid feeling how I felt my work will have been a success.

What I believe and why...

I believe that all young people have limitless potential. I believe that mainstream education isn't always the best option for all children and young people. I believe with the right kind of support young people of all neurotypes can have positive outcomes.

People should all feel seen heard understood and feel valued and validated. It only takes one person to do this to make a fundamental difference to how a person navigates the world.

Not all families have the same opportunities but no matter what your circumstances there are things that you can do to work towards better outcomes.

I truly believe in this. I believe in choice autonomy and empowerment. It is vital that we show up for ourselves and our children and young people. Parents and carers and educators are all key to this. They all need support to carry this responsibility too. It is all of our responsibilities to raise a healthy generation that don't just survive but thrive.