Strength in Neurodiversity Scholarship

When I was born in 2007, my parents always knew that I had ADHD. It runs in the family after all. My historical experience started when I was tiny. When I was younger I had issues coping with the sounds of people coughing or sneezing, I would get overwhelmed a lot and bite my mother, and I was deathly afraid of men to the point where I temporarily quit dance because one of my teachers was a man. Adjusting to my surroundings and coping was very hard for me, and I had to be enrolled in my districts special education program. I was certified, and in special needs for a few years before being de-certified in kindergarten. Nothing stand out-ish happened until second grade and my ADHD got in the way of my learning. Of course, I didn't notice anything, I didn't think anything was wrong with me. Nothing is wrong with me. When my teacher would tell me to focus and would tell my parents that something was up, I thought that I was a bad kid. I wasn't a bad kid, my teacher just knew something was up, and so did my parents. In March 2015, I was officially diagnosed with ADHD and I was put on medication to help. The medication did help for the time that I was able to take it. In 2017, when I got diagnosed with a heart problem I was put on medication to keep my heart healthy. Unfortunately, since this medication negatively interfered with my ADHD meds, I couldn't take them anymore. This was a challenge within itself because this meant that I did not have the help from the meds to focus, and self-regulate. I would have to do the work that my meds did when it came to regulating emotions, focus, executive functioning, and interpersonal relationships. That in itself is probably one of the hardest things I do every day. For years, I spent my time hating what was given to me, and I tried so hard to mask myself and to be like the other kids. That never worked, I never understood that there was nothing wrong with me because of how different I was from the other kids. I never understood that maybe because I'm so different from these other kids, I have an advantage. That advantage would be the story that I get to tell you today. If I didn't struggle in the past with this fun and daunting thing called ADHD, which I still do to this day struggle with, I wouldn't have the perspective that I have now, I wouldn't have the patience that I have now, I wouldn't have the creativity that I have now. In high school I changed my perspective completely, I'm open about my ADHD, and I'm open about my struggles. I talk to my family about what I went through and how certain things affect me now. The most interesting thing is how my ADHD changes through the years, and how much it influences things like my emotions, my creativity, and my passion for dance, screenwriting, and production design. I plan to work with my brain and use these things to my advantage. I know that my creativity and my vision come from this. It's why I always am so inspired artistically, it's why I always have an idea and a new world in my head. Whether I forget about these ideas and worlds or not, they come from me and my ADHD, and I plan to embrace who I am in the future.

I appreciate having an opportunity to be considered for this scholarship. Most importantly I am grateful to be able to tell my story. For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with being organized, putting things off concentrating and not turning in my assignments on time. As a result of this, my grades were poor. My parents were at a loss regarding how to assist me. I was taken to multiple counselors. None of whom were able to help me with my problems. My mother discussed her concerns about me with my school. Finally in the ninth grade, I met with the school’s psychologist and with her recommendation, I was seen by my doctor. The visit revealed a diagnosis of ADHD. With the support from my parents, my teachers, the school’s counselor and their psychologist, as well as medication, I noticed a change. ARD meetings were scheduled yearly. It was during the ARD meetings that plans were put into place with my teachers which assured that help was available to me as needed. Included in the school’s plan was seating arrangements close to my teachers. This was done to limit any distractions and so that I could have easy access to my teachers. Tutoring services and after school assistance has also been available to me since my ADHD diagnosis. The medication prescribed by my doctor has helped me to stay focused and organized. My grades also improved. There are times however when I still struggle with these issues. I’m happy to report that the plans put into place by my school to help me succeed has worked. If I hadn’t been diagnosed with ADHD, who knows what my future might have been like. The importance of attending college, has always been a discussion that my parents had with me. As a result of their encouragement , I will be attending Sam Houston State University in the fall. I plan to major in Forensic Science. Conversations that my mother has had with Sam Houston revealed that they can implement a plan which will assure my success . This has most definitely lessen my concerns about going to college. I will definitely miss my support system from school. It’s too bad that I can’t take each of them with me. My JROTC teacher has been extremely supportive of me, and my struggles with ADHD since entering her class as a freshman.