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persistence
Hi. Completing high school or a GED is very important in our culture today. What one does after that depends on one's interests and options. A college degree does not guarentee a job is waiting for you. It does not mean a person will have job security. Having a niche that can set you apart from the herd is helpful. And for some people I know they have chosen a trade school of some kind. It may not get them the top of the line job, but it gives them a skill and a step in a direction and a foot in the door. Based on that skill and interest and honed abilities, they've done on to earn a degree. But it cannot happen with out the high school dipoloma or GED.
I have been dx with ADD since Dec. 2007. I've had ADD all my life. I'm now in meds. What I've discovered is: I used to spend most of my energy trying to pay attention and alert. Now I don't have to work as hard on that. But I've got other life style practices and issues to work on.
I have a Masters Degree. College and Grad school were hard for me. I didn't "get it" when it came to the book work and tests -- even though I loved what I was doing. I worked hard to be average and get Bs & Cs. I quit thousands of time. The #1 character trait in my family (for generations) was "bull-headedness". I was not going to let the course work beat me. Also in college, I had a bad drinking problem. (that is another character trait of my family.) I've learned now that booze keeps one even more unable to pay attention. It was a solution that helped me to cope with my problems. But I lost so much time, lost so many friends, and who knows how many opportunities. Drinking like that was an unhealthy friend.
I don't believe there are easy answers or solutions to ADD and other forms of mental disorders. But I know that there are ways to work with it so that it does not render a person completely unable to funtion in this life. Yes, meds are good tools. But meds alone will not fix things. I am learning that. I wish a pill was all I needed. I cannot find solutions or ways of doing things differently on my own. I need coaching. I'm trying to learn not to be so defensive to their criticism. (Old habits die hard.) I've lived with this for over 40 years and I've developed some deep patterns (or ruts). It will take persistent work and a willingness to learn new behaviors for my life.
To the young lady who started this thread, don't give up. There are ways to treat and to work with whatever problems and/or diagnosis you face. It will take persistence to complete the marathon you are now running. But please remember that this marathon is going to be for the remainder of your life. Don't give up!
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