Rising from failure series
Written by Midhun Noble
I have got seventeen suspensions in my school life and one dismissal. I was what they would call the 'out standing' student for being outside the class all the time. One teacher with whom I shared a love-hate relationship used to tell "He is either going to end up in prison or become the prison guard". The second may be because my father was a policeman.
I survived the school system just because I was good at academics and sports and bad at everything else in life. My notebooks were filled with doodles and I hated writing notes. I did not have a profanity filter and told what I thought and was constantly getting into trouble. I failed in relationships miserably as I was protecting my broken shell more than my ability to see them and love them for what they are.
I survived college with less destructive behaviors but I knew something was different in me. I was too fast, too radical, and variety-seeking for the world. I have heard of this term ADHD in my under graduation and its symptoms. I realized I have some symptoms of the same but then I thought it was like those personality tests people take in colleges and think that is what they are.
I finally underwent my therapy as an adult and my experience made sense. I realized I have a combined type of ADHD one that is rather difficult to place in any bracket. I first tried meds and the feeling was like this is how the rest of the world feel so calm, so focused and so smooth but then I felt it was not me, I am not that version of me in medication that I can't recognize him anymore.
I slowly started learning about the strengths of ADHD. I hated writing so I shifted to typing. I designed my life around time periods of hyper-focus and distractions. I started a firm that supports children in schools with behavioral difficulties. I am still learning, still failing to hit my targets sometimes, still learning the wonders of my ADHD brain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Midhun who shared his story with us. Share your story with us at https://forms.gle/RaeMZhVwbNHzGsX19
CCE is constantly working on designing an encouraging and inclusive learning environment in schools. Our School Development program is based on the principles of SISU. (S-Search, I-Innovate, S- Share and Sustain, U -Understand).