Have I told you that my ADHD makes me special?  It makes me very smart, an expert of sorts in things that interest me or that I am passionate about. Have I told you how it makes me function like the energizer bunny until my batteries run dry? Unless, of course, I am passionate about what I am doing. In that case, I find a way to get it done, even if it means staying awake for days. My family will leave the house for the day ad find me i the same spot when they return eight hours later. Seems normal to me, shits gotta get done. Sleep is overrated. Rest is for the weak.  That is what I tell myself until I crash and sleep for what feels like forever.  I will be honest: tired or hungry me are not friendly people. We are grumpy.

            I am an all-in person.  I jump in both feet, often without thinking things through. It is like a no-fear approach to an idea that seems great until it comes time to execute it. This is what happened with going back to school. I thought it was a great idea, then actually came going.  I settled in, but the first day was a lot. My middle-aged self was frightened by the 18-20-year-old population I found myself amongst. I have kids that age. What was I thinking?  Oh, that’s right, I wasn’t.  This was one of my spontaneous ADHD decisions that worked out in the end because I am actually kinda brilliant.   

            Yesterday, that crazy idea of going back to school was followed by the craziest news ever.  Let us retrace my academic career. I had childhood epilepsy. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and there was the dreaded shopping cart incident (yes, I brought it up).  I had a speech impediment and corrective shoes. I know, you’re thinking this girl was so popular, and I was to the bullies.  I failed grade 5, barely scraped by in high school, and at twenty-two years old, I took four years to get a three-year degree.  Not exactly stellar. 

Jump to this leg of my academics. I fought to get back into university.  I had to convince them that I was not the same student I was twenty-five years ago.   I upgraded my degree to Honours, made the Dean’s list and was convinced by a professor to apply to grad school.I took a leap of faith and tried to see the potential my professor saw in me. I got lucky, and one of the four graduate master’s programs I applied to accepted me, and here we are. 

Then, yesterday,yes back to yesterday because my non linear self has been even more frazzled then usual sonce the news yesterday. I heard words I did not think I would ever hear asssociated with me.  My ADHD helped me become part of the top 5% in ADHD research, according to my profs.  That’s right; I have yet to share the news.  I was told yesterday I can officially put an M.A. after my name because I completed my master’s. From failing grade 5 to a master’s. I think what freaks me out the most, is from failing grade 5 to becoming part of the top 5% in my area of research.  According to my professor.

This is what I take pride in.  My ADHD and life experiences with this “deficit” or “behaviour,” as people refer to it, ignited my mind.  It helped me get my master’s, and it is what I researched.  This knowledge, this top 5% of knowledge in ADHD, is now what I will use to help others with ADHD recognize their brilliance and creativity. This is the purpose of this blog.  Be proud and f*#@ anyone who makes you question what makes you unique.  What makes me unique got me an M.A. after my name.

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