My mother and I have similar issues. We both struggle with ADD. Hers was diagnosed at a young age, however, I have not been diagnosed, but show all of the signs. I had amazing grades throughout school, my reading level was through the roof, and I had a lot of friends. I was not the most aware, but I was great otherwise. 7th grade was the year everything started slipping. I was great with every class except for pre-algebra, where I had a C. Civics was not amazing either, but it was far more stable. I was so stressed about my grade in pre-algebra, that I just was not motivated to fix it. 7th grade was also my first year in orchestra, which really helped me stay calm and stable. In 8th grade, nothing got better. I was feeling depressed and needed support. I was failing my algebra honors class, and couldn't fix it. I believe I ended the class with a low D. I took a pre-AP US history course as well, and the first semester was very hard. The schoolwork was not hard for either of these classes, I just did not want to put the work in due to my lack of care and motivation. In fact, we had DBQ's (discussion-based assessments) in history, and my teacher was always impressed with the quality of my work, and the time that I would have completed it. I never did homework if I could help it. I would always wait until the last minute, or just not turn it in at all. This feeling was new, I was not used to not caring about my grades. I was always the "smart" quiet kid in the family, and my mom was very disappointed. I was doing good in orchestra thought. I was in my 2nd year, and I was in the advanced orchestra. 9th grade, my first year of high school. This year was a somewhat train wreck. I was not doing great in math until we got our long-term substitute. He was really amazing at grabbing our attention and being fun. My English class was not amazing either, I had a C most of the year. My AP human geography class was very bad, not because it was hard, but because I did not do well on tests (which was the majority of the grade). Biology was not terrible but had its moments of not going well. However, Orchestra was where it was getting interesting. I had been in chorus for 9 years prior, but I quit because I wanted to try something new. I loved chorus, but I didn't think I would be in it forever. Orchestra stuck with me in a way that chorus could never. I absolutely loved it. At the time, I didn't know what I would do with it, but I knew that it was my future. This new teacher I had, however, made orchestra very hard to be in. She was also the chorus teacher, however, she had orchestra experience due to her daughters. My mom was on the phone with her one day, asking how I could improve my playing, where I should take lessons, etc. It was all well and good until my mom said that I was thinking about joining a professional orchestra in the future. My teacher laughed and said it wasn't possible because I started so late, and compared me to her daughters by saying that they had been taking expensive lessons since they were 4/5. My mom naturally went off on her and told her that I had potential, and it is disgusting that a teacher could say that. Ever since then, that teacher had made it a point to mess with me and put me in a bad spot every chance she could. 10th grade, last year. Everything was similar to my 9th-grade year, except for spring break. We thought spring break was going to be extended to only 2 weeks, but it ended up being until summer. Online classes were the worst for my brain to handle, I wouldn't do any of my work. Somehow, I didn't fail anything. Covid really gave me a chance to think about my mental health and where I was at. I had realized that I am not normal. I am not able to process information like other people without ADD would. Normal people can read a text and understand what it means. Other people can understand how to read others in social situations, while I couldn't. 11th grade, this year. This year has been my best year since 7th grade. I am proud to say that everything is getting better. Although I am behind, I have all A's and B's in my online classes. Orchestra is an in-person class, and we had a new teacher this year. He is an amazing teacher, and I learned so much in his class about being a leader in orchestra. I am happy to say that next year, I will be president of my school's orchestra, in my 6th year of playing. I want to go to college and become an orchestra teacher. I love teaching and inspiring others to be the best they can. Being in orchestra really gave me structure and hope. I was good at something and was able to major in it in college, which is more than a lot can say. Although I still deal with problems related to ADD, I am glad to say that my way of dealing with them is improving. Orchestra has really helped me have a purpose in going to school. I wouldn't have anything to go for if I didn't have teaching. I have always loved music and was good at it, but I have never been this passionate about a specific instrument. I play the double/acoustic bass, guitar, piano, and viola (my main instrument). Everything about music is beautiful, and being able to teach this versatile subject is important to me.

I am Scarlett Bidwell, currently a Junior in high school. I would love to continue doing what I love in the future, and that is being in orchestra. I play the viola as my principal instrument, however, I play many more instruments. This would include bass, guitar, violin, piano, and voice. I was in choir for 10 years, I loved singing and learning the techniques required to make different sounds and effects. I ended up quitting chorus because of the most recent teacher I had. She also taught my orchestra class for 2 years, however, I stayed because I knew I had potential. This teacher made chorus and orchestra almost completely unenjoyable, she tried making it serious to the point of taking the fun out of performing. My mom had talked to her on the phone about options for my orchestral future, and how to enhance my learning in the best way, and who to get lessons from. My mom went on to say that it was a big dream of mine to join the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. My teacher laughed and compared me to her two daughters, who had both been participating in expensive lessons since they were 4 years old. My teacher said that I did not have enough of a musical background with my viola to succeed in any professional orchestra. My mother was furious that my teacher had said that bold of a statement, not even taking my potential into account. Naturally, as mothers do, my mom talked back to my teacher defending me. From that point on, my teacher made it a point to pick on me every chance she could. This was the opposite of the experience I had in my middle school orchestra. My teacher in middle school was very funny and kind. He would constantly try to connect with students and be friends with them, as well as help them improve with whatever they wanted to do. His first year teaching was also my first year in orchestra. Both of these teachers, I can thank similarly for one thing. They both made me realize the importance of teaching, and how important it is to be a good teacher. They both made me want to inspire other children to do their best and improve in life. My high school chorus/orchestra teacher taught me that teachers have an unimaginable influence on your life, which can be good and bad. More kids than I can count had left her class because of how nasty she could be. Some would say it was because of the kids not being able to take constructive criticism, however, it was just because they felt that they weren't able to be better. This teacher showed me that kids need more nurturing and "confidence-boostings" than I could have thought. Students need to be appreciated for their work, and not just be told that they need to be better, however, told HOW they can be better. My middle school teacher showed me how important it is to connect with students. He gave us fun pieces to play, complimented us while playing, and gave constructive criticism. He told jokes in class, and even let me play a duet (that I had arranged for viola and violin) at our concert. He is more than willing to still talk to me after these few years of not being in his class. He was inspiring to be around. If it wasn't obvious, I want to teach my own orchestra program. I will be teaching middle thru college. I will be inspiring and bring my students up.