My lost potential, exploring education and ADHD
I’ve been seriously considering studying for a degree for the last decade. Most recently, I’ve been considering it even more.
I missed my chance to go to university back when everyone else was going. I’d just finished a diploma in photography and learnt I couldn’t get the support I wanted to further my education, so I opted to travel the world instead. Most of my peers went on to complete a degree, two or three, even, and have done very well for themselves (I am very happy for them)!
But within, I have stirred and yearned for something more for myself all of these years. I travelled, I read and wrote a lot, I fell in love, I moved abroad, I played music and I tried many many things (aka it’s not stopped me living my dreams). But in all honesty, throughout all of the odd jobs I’ve worked to get me by, I’ve itched for something more.
So it had me thinking this week, how does one with ADHD manage in education? Do many of us struggle with passing the bar? How many go on to study further education and get degrees? And how is the system for supporting, if not discouraging for the neurodivergent?
Come take a journey with me through school to college and university as we find out.
School reports, average grades and the system
Back in the 60’s and beyond, if a person struggled with attention, focus, impulse control or acted out, they were considered stupid, a dunce, a lost cause, a menace. Oh, thank goodness things have changed. Or have they?
It’s no secret that most individuals with ADHD struggle in school. We notably have trouble with focus, concentration and engaging in uninteresting topics and teaching methods in general. Depending on the type of ADHD, children in school could either be drifting off into the land of daydream (far more interesting than the maths equation on the board), or acting out in a burst of hyperactive boredom; or simply being sent out of class altogether. Sound familiar?
When reviewing my own school reports from the past, I began to notice the repeated comments of ‘capable of more’ but ‘easily distracted’, ‘more interested in talking to friends’ or ‘doesn’t concentrate enough during lesson’. If only someone had picked up on this sooner, perhaps I could have had extra help or alternate learning and fulfilled my potential. At times I think of the lost path, originally wanting to pursue journalism (but failing to get a good grade due to misunderstanding the question in the English lit exam).
So, is this a common tale? Does it start to derail us from fulfilling our academic potential?
According to the data, ‘longitudinal studies show that the academic underachievement and poor educational outcomes associated with ADHD are persistent. Academic difficulties for children with ADHD begin early in life’ meaning we aren’t always off to a good start in education.
There is promise though, with evidence of medication pointing to more promising outcomes in school, as well as further support in special education for children with ADHD and learning difficulties. We have a way to go still, but things are improving with the rise of diagnoses and awareness.
College, University and the likelihood of further education
‘’Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with poor educational outcomes that can have long-term negative effects on the mental health, wellbeing, and socio-economic outcomes of university students’’. — Consensus statement, UK
People with ADHD are less likely than their neurotypical counterparts to reach further education in general, ‘ultimately with relatively low rates of high school graduation and postsecondary education’. Though, when some of them do make it to further education, they are also more likely to drop out, fail, repeat or prolong their studies due to problems with concentration, sticking to routines, organisation and self regulation, and executive dysfunctions.
Due to the long wait times for diagnoses (NHS, UK), the novelty and excitement of starting college or university, moving away from home, developing new life skills independently, and loss of structure, ADHDers face particular difficulties in higher education. According to the consensus conducted by a range of practitioners and experts, more support is needed, as well as;
‘A multimodal approach can be adapted to support university students with ADHD. This approach would view timely access to treatment, including reasonable adjustments and educational support, as having a positive impact on the academic performance and achievement of university students with ADHD.’
It seems that the prime culprit again, is an underdiagnosis of ADHD in students, as well as inadequate support following the transition from school to university / college. If only we can get more in place, as mentioned in the consensus; a multimodal approach to adapt to students, perhaps we can support more people in realising their talents and bring out the best for all.
Alternative learning and different paths
I’d love to also acknowledge here that academia isn’t for everyone, and as such isn’t the only path to walk down. There are many ways to find purpose, many skills to learn, trades to pursue, and creative roles to try. Looking at the modern tech world, it’s clear that creatives and neurodivergent’s are killing it right now.
Look at artists, videographers, developers, entrepreneurs, writers and musicians and see the many successes online, as well as locally. With the internet, has brought so many self starters and creatives out to the masses; with more reach, connection and networking than ever before. It’s an incredible time for opportunity, work from home and self employment (and freelancing), which has been highly beneficial for ADHDers the world over.
Not to mention, alternative learning; courses, podcasts, videos, even gaming to help find your learning style. There’s been an explosion in the many new ways to learn, with free resources shared online, there’s almost too many to choose from!
It’s never too late!
Turn it around later in life.
As always, later on in life, there is hope to fulfil our lost potential. As previously stated, I like to end each post on a high, ‘cos we got too many problems to tackle. ADHD is also fabulous in its traits of empathy, creativity, innovation and spontaneity, making us some of the best artists, creators and entrepreneurs around. And don’t get me started on our hyperfocus mode, with our incessant thirst for learning, sharing and creating.
There are wonderful stories of famous names of the past, who showed the same traits of ADHD, yet went on to invent, discover and create some of the most memorable works of the day. Leonardo Da Vinci, Mozart, Agatha Christie, Thomas Edison were all thought to have ADHD.
The first step is to make sure you get a proper diagnosis, where and when accessible to you. Understanding yourself and your ADHD, will help you to learn about your true self, and the ways you can adapt to life with your new found powers. Therapy or coaching can be beneficial in guiding you to the right healing and furthermore, your desired path. Maybe you want to continue pursuing what you’re in now, with better support, or maybe you’ll decide to go back and pursue what you missed out on in school or college! Either way, you do you.
Spread the word for the children of tomorrow
The importance of spreading awareness and gaining understanding with ADHD in education is paramount for setting children on a good path from when they start school. The sooner we can catch signs of neurodivergence, get a professional diagnosis and understand what they need, the sooner we can provide the right support and methods to bring out the best in them.
How many multi-potentialites have we missed out on for their ability, intelligence and ideas due to outdated schooling, testing and ignorance? We can do better, and we will.
Thanks for reading, as always, fellow ADHDers. See you next week on Diamond for a new post.
SOURCES
ADHD types
ADHD Clinic — ADHD & attention
College students with ADHD: current status and future directions
Academic and Educational Outcomes of Children With ADHD
This was from an article on Diamond in a Haystack, for more like this click here.
