I wish that I had boundless energy. I
wish I had more hours in the day, didn't waste eight of them
sleeping; four would be enough. I wish I could hyperfocus on my
goal and not be constantly sidetracked with distractions. I wish
that fear wouldn't keep me from expanding, from trying new things, from
leaving my comfort zone. I wish I could be more impulsive and not
think everything to death before acting, which usually consequently
never happens - the acting, I mean.
Let's see: boundless energy, need
little sleep, hyperfocus on my passions, fearless, impulsive. Wait a
minute! I wish I had ADHD!!! But isn't that a learning disability?
Isn't it a "terrible" thing to have? Isn't it a curse?
Why? And I ask again, why?
The only negative thing about people with ADHD is
that as children they don't make good students. They don't sit
quietly while being lectured. They don't demonstrate real, or feigned, interest in what they are being taught in school. They
can't stop reacting, physically and verbally, constantly to what they
experience. They want to grab life by the handful and not wait
patiently while it is doled out in lesson plans.
And before you lecture me on how I know
little about ADHD, let me remind you that I am a high school teacher
and principal and have been for many years. I have spent hours,
days, and years of joy with these so called "disabled"
children. They are truly amazing. The key is to work with them. To
find, as with any child, their strengths and to help them work on
their weaknesses. Do they talk too much and not listen? Show them
the value of listening. Help them see when their talking is
interesting to others and when it is just babbling. Is their
impulsivity dangerous to themselves or to others? Teach them how to
judge actions and consequences. Teach them responsibility. Guide
them. Nurture them. As we should do with all the children under our
care. But don't suppress those very assets that will make them
successful in life. Boundless energy, need little sleep, hyperfocus
on their passions, fearless and impulsive.
Our future leaders in politics,
entertainment, business, and social advancement will have ADHD.
If our school system doesn't destroy
them first.
