Overcoming A.D.D.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
My name is Andrea, I have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and I would like
to tell you about ADD and many of the issues and obstacles I needed to
overcome because of it. My Mom knew something just wasn’t right about me
when I was in kindergarten. She always tells the story about me asking to be
excused while in the midst of dinner to go to the bathroom and then finding
me out side in the driveway playing with cars. Once she sent me upstairs to
get my shoes and found me playing with my stuffed animals, meanwhile Mom is
waving to the bus driver to wait for me. I got left back in first grade and
had to repeat it. The teacher thought I was just too young.
By the time I was in second and third grade academically things were not
going too well for me. I was having a lot of trouble learning. I remember
coming home with a low grade on my test paper with an unhappy face on it. I
told my Mom that I was the class dummy. I saw my Mom’s eyes well up with
tears as I retreated to my room. I over heard Mom telling a friend that she
told the teacher that she was never to put a unhappy face or negative
comment on my papers and that I was giving all I could.
Mom hired a tutor to help me during the school and also through the summer
to help reinforce things. She also refused to give up on me; we counted with
Cheerios, made up songs to help me remember. Mom would take many trips from
home to school, as there was many days I would forget my books, lunch, or
homework at home. Mom also invited friends to play with me at my house
because many parents did not want me at their homes; I guess I was to hyper
for them.
Mom also had me go to many test and doctors neurologist, psychologist, ear
and eye doctors. I was tested for seizures, had EEG’s, blood work and
MRI’s to name a few. One neuro-psychiatrist told my Mom that I was
mentally retarded and would never graduate high school. Another Doctor
wanted me to have an MRI to rule out a brain tumor.
After all this testing was completed, I was diagnosed as having ADD and was
started on adderall that I take only on school days. My brain responded to
this medication and was able to focus and remember more. The only real
difference I notice when I take adderall is that people treat me different.
People treat and respond to me better when I take adderall.
With the medication and being classified as learning disabled, I was given
support in the schools and additional time with testing. I worked hard at
school and started doing well. Mom thought I would do better in Catholic
School because there are less distractions and more focus on academics, she
helped get me in and paid for me to go to Our Lady of Lourdes High School.
Initially, I was denied acceptance to Our Lady of Lourdes High School
because they thought I needed too much help. Well I ended up writing a
letter to the Dean (please see copy of original letter) and met with the
dean and the principal pleading with them to give me a chance at their high
School.
This is my senior year at Our Lady of Lourdes, I am proud to say that my
GPA is 3.6 and SAT score is 1340. I have applied and have been accepted the
nursing program at Mt. Saint Vincent’s, Pace University and Mt Saint
Mary’s College.
Being that I have a learning disability, had to over come many obstacles,
my goal is to eventually to work with pediatrics. I had to work hard to
overcome my handicap and feel that I have insight and will be a positive
role model to children. I also know that just because you have a learning
disability doesn’t make you stupid or you should be treated differently.
My Mom is a single parent and also a nurse and she works two jobs trying to
make ends meet. Mom says she’s extremely proud of me for getting into
these colleges and some how will find a way to pay for me to go. You see my
Mom is also the one person I admire the most, she has always fought for me
and has supported me. I thought that if I could get scholarships it would be
my way of saying thanks to my Mom and make her life easier.
Everything in my letter can be verified through the schools and my doctor.
I am in a focus program at Our Lady of Lourdes, which is for students that
have learning disabilites.
Thank you for reading this and hopefully considering me for your
scholarship.
posted in: New York