Growing up as a child with ADHD in school is very difficult; I tried to pay attention in class, but every little thing distracted me. I even had trouble sitting in my seat throughout the entire school day. I would attempt to study for tests and would not be able to because everything seemed to distract me; I had to learn to focus. I was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade. Before I was diagnosed, the teachers literally told my mother that I was “un-teachable”. I struggled with focusing for a long time and it was not until high school that I learned to study for tests and assignments. Most people can study in their bedrooms, often while they are doing other things —like listening to music. In order for me to study, I have to turn off all other distractions and be in silence. I will often go into my basement to be completely alone and force myself to stay focused to study.
Over the years, I have learned many ways to cope with the constant distractions and difficulty focusing. Most of the time, I try to think about how important the thing I[m trying to accomplish is, and the positive and negative outcomes of letting myself get distracted and not finishing the task. I try to think about what would happen if I am not able to complete that task, and what that ultimate impact would be. Other times, I attempt to make it fun for myself by turning the task into a game. Most of the time I get myself to focus by thinking about my dreams and goals of attending college and starting my own business; that alone helps me to focus and get things done. Throughout elementary school, I really worked on trying to learn to control my ability to focus and block out distractions. As I transitioned to middle-school, I became better at focusing on the necessary tasks and was able to consistently earn honor roll and other performance accolades. Once I entered into