I was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade. I struggled to pay attention and I had a hard time learning. I was always labeled as talkative and disruptive. My grades were terrible and I was not confident in myself. I had a hard time with social interactions and relationships also. People always said I was hyper or needed to calm down. It wasn't something I could control though. Once I was diagnosed I began to get the help I needed. It was not an easy task. There was no magic answer. I did take medication for a few years to help me focus but over all it took alot of time and energy to start to make improvements. Thanks to my IEP case workers, dedicated teachers and the support of my parents through the years I have learned many ways to manage my ADHD symptoms. I still get distracted easily and my nickname will forever be squirrel but I am now able to redirect myself. I still have some difficulty with my ADHD, every day is a work in progress but every day I made strides to improve. I have gained confidence in myself and learned to accept myself the way I am. My grades have improved and I have been able to maintain a 3.0 and above GPA over the past few years. I still have an IEP in math but I was able to drop the IEP for English and I challenged myself to take Honors English. I excelled in Honors English my junior year and for the first time actually enjoyed English class. I am taking honors English Online this year and have an A so far this semester. I am so proud of myself and how far I have come. Being able to take an Honors class is not something I ever thought I would be able to do not to mention holding an A both years in Honors English. I have also held many leadership roles in my FFA Chapter as well as Treasurer for our Region. I have held leadership positions in 4-H including President twice, Reporter and Secretary. I have gained confidence in public speaking and have worked very hard to get where I am today. I have over 100 hours volunteering and I work part time at 3 different jobs. I not only learned to handle my disability but have learned to maintain my school work and grades along with my extra curricular activities. It is still a struggle daily but I am working hard to not let my ADHD limit my abilities. In college I want to persue Dental Hygiene so I can help people have good dental health. I would like to get a job in my community so I can continue to help people in our county.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade. I struggled to pay attention and I had a hard time learning. I was always labeled as talkative and disruptive. My grades were terrible and I was not confident in myself. I had a hard time with social interactions and relationships also. People always said I was hyper or needed to calm down. It wasn't something I could control though. Once I was diagnosed I began to get the help I needed. It was not an easy task. There was no magic answer. I did take medication for a few years to help me focus but over all it took alot of time and energy to start to make improvements. Thanks to my IEP case workers, dedicated teachers and the support of my parents through the years I have learned many ways to manage my ADHD symptoms. I still get distracted easily and my nickname will forever be squirrel but I am now able to redirect myself. I still have some difficulty with my ADHD, every day is a work in progress but every day I made strides to improve. I have gained confidence in myself and learned to accept myself the way I am. My grades have improved and I have been able to maintain a 3.0 and above GPA over the past few years. I still have an IEP in math but I was able to drop the IEP for English and I challenged myself to take Honors English. I excelled in Honors English my junior year and for the first time actually enjoyed English class. I am taking honors English Online this year and have an A so far this semester. I am so proud of myself and how far I have come. Being able to take an Honors class is not something I ever thought I would be able to do not to mention holding an A both years in Honors English. I have also held many leadership roles in my FFA Chapter as well as Treasurer for our Region. I have held leadership positions in 4-H including President twice, Reporter and Secretary. I have gained confidence in public speaking and have worked very hard to get where I am today. I have over 100 hours volunteering and I work part time at 3 different jobs. I not only learned to handle my disability but have learned to maintain my school work and grades along with my extra curricular activities. It is still a struggle daily but I am working hard to not let my ADHD limit my abilities.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade. I struggled to pay attention and I had a hard time learning. I was always labeled as talkative and disruptive. My grades were terrible and I was not confident in myself. I had a hard time with social interactions and relationships also. People always said I was hyper or needed to calm down. It wasn't something I could control though. Once I was diagnosed I began to get the help I needed. It was not an easy task. There was no magic answer. I did take medication for a few years to help me focus but over all it took alot of time and energy to start to make improvements. Thanks to my IEP case workers, dedicated teachers and the support of my parents through the years I have learned many ways to manage my ADHD symptoms. I still get distracted easily and my nickname will forever be squirrel but I am now able to redirect myself. I still have some difficulty with my ADHD, every day is a work in progress but every day I made strides to improve. I have gained confidence in myself and learned to accept myself the way I am. My grades have improved and I have been able to maintain a 3.0 and above GPA over the past few years. I still have an IEP in math but I was able to drop the IEP for English and I challenged myself to take Honors English. I excelled in Honors English my junior year and for the first time actually enjoyed English class. I am taking honors English Online this year and have an A so far this semester. I am so proud of myself and how far I have come. Being able to take an Honors class is not something I ever thought I would be able to do not to mention holding an A both years in Honors English. I have also held many leadership roles in my FFA Chapter as well as Treasurer for our Region. I have held leadership positions in 4-H including President twice, Reporter and Secretary. I have gained confidence in public speaking and have worked very hard to get where I am today. I have over 100 hours volunteering and I work part time at 3 different jobs. I not only learned to handle my disability but have learned to maintain my school work and grades along with my extra curricular activities. It is still a struggle daily but I am working hard to not let my ADHD limit my abilities.

I was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade. I struggled to pay attention and I had a hard time learning. I was always labeled as talkative and disruptive. My grades were terrible and I was not confident in myself. I had a hard time with social interactions and relationships also. People always said I was hyper or needed to calm down. It wasn't something I could control though. Once I was diagnosed I began to get the help I needed. It was not an easy task. There was no magic answer. I did take medication for a few years to help me focus but over all it took alot of time and energy to start to make improvements. Thanks to my IEP case workers, dedicated teachers and the support of my parents through the years I have learned many ways to manage my ADHD symptoms. I still get distracted easily and my nickname will forever be squirrel but I am now able to redirect myself. I still have some difficulty with my ADHD, every day is a work in progress but every day I made strides to improve. I have gained confidence in myself and learned to accept myself the way I am. My grades have improved and I have been able to maintain a 3.0 and above GPA over the past few years. I still have an IEP in math but I was able to drop the IEP for English and I challenged myself to take Honors English. I excelled in Honors English my junior year and for the first time actually enjoyed English class. I am taking honors English Online this year and have an A so far this semester. I am so proud of myself and how far I have come. Being able to take an Honors class is not something I ever thought I would be able to do not to mention holding an A both years in Honors English. I have also held many leadership roles in my FFA Chapter as well as Treasurer for our Region. I have held leadership positions in 4-H including President twice, Reporter and Secretary. I have gained confidence in public speaking and have worked very hard to get where I am today. I have over 100 hours volunteering and I work part time at 3 different jobs. I not only learned to handle my disability but have learned to maintain my school work and grades along with my extra curricular activities. It is still a struggle daily but I am working hard to not let my ADHD limit my abilities.