I entered law school in 2005 as a "second career" student - the nice way they describe the old guys who aren't going to be as mold-able as our younger counterparts! I was 35 at the time, had lost a job (and left others after various periods of time) for what I realize now were performance issues related to not being able to sit at my desk and do my work. I could brainstorm and generate ideas, strategies, tactics, etc., with the best of them. But writing up a 100-page plan or following through on details was impossible for me (and very frustrating both for me and my employer and manager).

Upon returning to school, I realized that much of my academic and work-life were marred by these problems. Nothing I'm saying is terribly specific, but I'm sure it's familiar to those who experienced it too. I ended up having a very difficult time during my first 1.5 years of law school (first baby came along after the first year, too!). Talk about a challenge for undiagnosed ADHD. I basically didn't sleep, my grades suffered etc., I was useless to my wife and my time with the baby was hazy at best. So I sought help at the school's counseling service. After a surprisingly probing set of conversations with the psychologist there (and his attempts at making experimenting with exec order skills - pure failures!), he determined that mine was a textbook case of ADHD and he was shocked that I had been able to compensate and live the life I'd lived despite the failures I'd experienced!

So I'm using Adderall XR (after three hours I felt like a completely different and focused person, and nearly cried with regret and relief!) and trying to keep on top of things, but I'm really having a tough go of it. I'm essentially learning how to learn and retain, learning how to organize time, complete projects, job hunt, prepare for the bar exam, complete a required research paper (long-term project), etc. I'm having a tough time with retention and actually getting motivated, (not that I lack motivation, which is totally different that being motivated) and getting going with my school work.

I need to find some good study methods/techniques that are useful for adult students and are useful ASAP -- and if it can be transferred into productivity in the workplace, well great.

Thanks for any advice or materials you might offer! If there are moms or dads or children out there who have figured out good tips for children, but may transfer to adult learnings, I'm open to those suggestionst too!

Best, Felix.

Quote