Experience of school | ADHD Information

Wondering what others experience of school was?

I had so many problems from the start, I began in the learning difficulties group which really bored me, was in that for the first 5 years untill I got all confused and ended up in the wrong class, math, really interested me, did the hyper-focus thing and did the entire lesson in like 5 minuets, so they kept me in the top set from then. But was sooo behind and catching up wasn't easy. One minuet I'd be in the bottom class next the top, completely confusing, either bored or trying to catch up on all i had missed.

Got into trouble all the time, late for lessons cus I couldn't remember where they were, forgeting text books, stationary, homework etc, CONSTANTLY. Quite embassing when my science teacher wrote 'do not forget me' all over my book in a big black pen in front of the class :-S

Thankfull at GCSEs I got extra time, but no one told me why. Then at college I was allowed extra time to complete my written work, but never knew what was different about me, what my difficulty was. After all this, I said NOWAY to university, but after two years out, I've finally plucked up the courage to go, but really scaried, whether I'm going to be able to cope with demands. I Can't fill out  any learning difficulty forms because I still have no idea (but thinking ADHD/ADD describes my difficulties to a tee).

My experiences of school were terrible...I felt like I was trapped in box...I was not diagnosed until my later years...I read fast but couldnt remember anything that I read...So my grades were really bad, and I always ended up in the lowest reading and math groups...Plus I couldn't stay in my seat very long, and was very disrupitive in class...I couldn't stop talking, couldn't sit still, always blurting out comments..and always found myself in the principles office...High was a struggle as well...then college I don't know how I made it through...then as an adult I was finally diagnosed classic ADHD....whew...and put on meds...I can't tell you how I felt as a kid..other kids calling me slow..I felt retarded big time...after I was put on meds. I went for my masters and wow, I graduated with high honors...I am still in shock..when I got my dipolma it said Masters with distinction...I called the University cause I had no clue what that meant, and the guy said "feel proud...you graduated with honors.."...I am still in a state of shock but a good shock that is....

Fortunatly I was diagnosed by 3rd grade. Fortunatly? I don't remember feeling diffrent or struggling before I was diagnosed.  I was more than a year behind in some areas so, I must have just been clueless. They put me in a special class that was self contained.  I hated it.  I was not evan allowed to go to recess or lunch with the "normal" children. All the other students were boys and one had mental retardation.  One size fits all, special ed. I believed I was mentaly retarded and no one wanted to tell me.

Junior High was the worst. At one point I litterally had no friends, not one.

A turning point was when I read a book HOW TO TURN DOWN INTO UP. It taught me how to attain new social skills by faking it till you make it. I have been a self improver ever since.

Things were not great in highschool and colledge, but I always had a small group of friends. I had terrible self esteem, but managed to get by.

As an adult I found that people are all diffrent and it is O.K.  My social skill deficits have not effected me as much.  As a mom, wife, house keeper, former teacher, I found my self becoming more and more overwhelmed. I just kept thinking if I just try a little harder. I must be lazy. If I would just get my act together. I had no Idea that my A.D.H.D. was still effecting me. I could not try harder! I finaly decided to get tested to see if I had adult A.D.H.D.  I honestly thought the testing would show I did not. I was wrong. I am now on Adderall, What a diffrence. It is hard to describe It is like someone let the real me out of a box. I can finally be the person I have always felt was under there somewhere. 

 

I agree kids should be grouped by disability and severity. I think would help teachers better.

I only went Public school 2 years hated those 2years.College tryed 2 times not well done. Would have to do remedal classes, first decided not for me.

School was a real challenge for me.  When I was tested for IQ in kindergarten I had the second highest in the class.  I had a hard time learning to read.  Math was like a foreign language.  I was fairly social.  I was constantly distracted, daydreaming off in La La Land.  I could not stand to sit in one place for very long, with out fidgeting.  My grades were very poor.  I never had enough time to complete work....I read slowly, I thought slowly and couldn't remember things.  I cheated my way through JR High and High School.  I was good at track and showing horses (when I didn't forget the pattern, Or to back up the horse).

I went to community college, five years after I got out of high school.  I had to take bone head everything.  Four years later I had earned ( without cheating) an Associate of Arts & Associate of General Studies.  Graduated PHI THETA KAPPA Honor Society.  I then went a year to University and did horrible. I didn't know what I wanted to be so I quit.....

I have night mares about going back to school....Idon't remember my locker combination....I can't find my class...I can't find my books...It's time to take the test, and I haven't done any of the assignments. 

 

To this day I have nightmares that involve taking the final exam for a class that I know I'm registered for...but somehow forgot to ever attend, never did the homework, and worse...don't have any idea where the classroom is.

I've blocked out those earlier years, I think. But as I read, some memories return.

writing the same sentence 100 times "I will not......" standing with my nose against the blackboard standing in the corner moving my desk in the corner being told to stop.....whatever reading my novel hidden behind the text book being constantly embarassed being constantly left out feeling like I was retarded...or adopted. A mentally retarded adoptee. having 'friends' treat me like I'm stupid having books as best friends never doing homework never studying getting 'Bs' anyway having the whole school surprised that I got the highest score on the regents exam. Being surprised myself. hating myself wanting to die

Now I know why I've erased those memories. For some reason, Junior High was the absolute worst. Hell would be eternal Junior High.

Lol, thats what got me thinking of school, my last nightmare was seeing everyone go off to thier classes and me wondering around knowing I was going to get in trouble and not having a clue where I was suppossed to be *Shivers*.

Was looking up my old primary school reports the other ones were burnt in a cerimonial burning along with all my text books, that felt soooo gud. They all said, 'lacks motivation unless inspiried. 'talks to the kids around her too much' 'doesn't get any work done.' 'makes silly mistakes' 'can't string sentences or remember word patterns" "is often lost in her own thoughts' yadda yadda.

Also said what a low self-confidence I had, no wonder, the amount of trouble I would get in even though I was trying, well trying to try.

Didn't realise  I had so much one  on one. It was the next school I was lost in the system.  Most of my lunch times were spent in detentions, darn things.
Dark_Angel38575.157025463

I hated school except for grades 4 and 5 since my teacher was just an incredible person and teacher...I still keep in contact with him.  I can just remember math being excruitiating!  I hated it and still do, but know enough to get me by.  I always excelled in English, Language and Writing.  My report cards were always the same with comments like "not working up to potential", etc.  I was not a troublemaker, so I wasn't in the Principal's office or anything like that.  I also was constantly made fun of by other kids.

I did start doing better in grades 8 and early 9 but then I moved from the Detroit area to Toledo and things just went kaput.  Low self esteem got me hooked up with the wrong types of people, then it was just fun to blow off school, drink, smoke dope and sleep around.  I barely graduated high school, then basically my parents forced me to go to college (I'm the youngest child and the "last hope") and I did not do well my first year.  I then transferred to a community college and did receive my AAS in ECE.  I've thought about going back to school since 1996 but I always put it off.  I'm finally enrolling for the Spring 2006 semester to get my BA in Paralegal Studies.  Since being diagnosed I feel I have better control of my life, and I am more focused to perform better educationally.  I've also raised that self esteem through my job where I can see results of my hard work, my boss is wonderful at praising my strengths, and I just got a raise and semi-promotion :)