iamcapable

When I was in elementary school, I was very shy and I still am to this day. I used to get bullied a lot, and I thought that if I stayed quiet, maybe the bullying would stop. But it didn’t. Because of how quiet I was, some of my teachers told my parents that I might have autism. So my parents decided to get me tested. After the evaluation, the doctor told them that I did not have autism. I had ADHD and a learning disability.

Instead of trying to understand how I learned or helping me in a way that fit my needs, my school decided to hold me back. While my classmates were learning new things in math and science, I was sent to a separate room to relearn the same basic material. I stayed in the same school district from elementary school all the way through high school, and not once did anyone try to figure out what type of learner I was. A learning disability does not mean you cannot learn. It just means you learn in a different way. But instead of taking the time to support me and help me grow, they gave me the same work over and over again. In that way, I believe my school district failed me.

Because of that experience, I now struggle in college. I am constantly trying to catch up and teach myself things I should have learned a long time ago. There are times when I sit in class and feel so far behind. I feel like I am not smart enough to be there. But no one in my school district ever believed I would go to college, so they did not think it was important to teach me. When I got to college, I had to completely change how I thought and how I learned. They say it takes thirty days to reprogram your brain, but my freshman year felt like a wake-up call that hit me hard.

College forced me to step up. I had to put in the work not only to study for my college courses but also to learn the things I was never taught. My days were filled with trying to balance both. I was constantly studying, constantly trying to understand the material, constantly working to prove that I belong here.

This is why believing in yourself is so important. So many people told me that I was not going to get into college. To be honest, I did not even think college was a real option for me until my junior year of high school. My school counselors and special education teachers told me that I should just go to community college and become a dental assistant. But I told myself that I was going to be a dentist. I was going to be a doctor.

Never let anyone tell you what you cannot do. If God put a dream in your heart, that means you have the ability to make it happen. God will never put you in a situation you are not strong enough to handle. You have to believe in yourself and keep going. Overcoming a learning disability is hard, but it is possible. Some days are tough. There are times I feel so discouraged. But I remind myself that I am not the only one struggling. Everyone has challenges. Our situations may be different, but we are all trying to figure it out.

Mindset is everything. I read a quote in a book called Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen that says thinking becomes reality. And that stuck with me. College is already difficult, and having a learning disability makes it even harder. But the reason I have made it this far and am now going into my junior year is because I know who I am. I know I deserve to be in college. I know I am smart enough to be here, even if others never saw that in me.

Growing up, I was never good at biology or math. Now I am a biology major. I could study biology all day. I still hate math, and I still struggle with it, but I work hard to understand it the best I can. I stay up all night studying because I want to succeed. My sleep schedule is awful, but I am doing it for my future. I want to be a dentist, and I know I can get there.

Always believe in yourself. Always have faith in your potential. If you can dream it, you can do it!

#learingdisability #ADHD #collegelife #disabilityawareness #MentalHealth #selfbelief #OvercomingObstacles #InvisibleDisability #Neurodiversity #EducationSystem #iamcapable #FutureDentist #StudyStruggles #believeinyourself

When I am home and unemployed, I get lost in everything I want and should do. I think I could do one small task to start, like cleaning the kitchen which also seems to never end. I feel productive but then I take a break and lose the will to do any project, no matter how long it's been. The depression is heavy and I'm trying to feel at ease with myself and know everything will work out but I feel sick and stuck, in my own head and home.
#CheckInWithMe #Depression #home #Motivation #ruminatingthoughts #thistooshallpass #iamcapable #Positivity #innerstrength