The ADHD Student Life
November is coming to a close, and the college/university students that I coach are definitely feeling the end of term pressure. I am an ADHD and academic coach for high school, college and university students with ADHD (and some with ASD or other neurodivergences). I’m also a Mom to 2 teens with ADHD, and I lived that ADHD student life a few decades ago. My other clients are adults with ADHD working in their professions or planning next career or life moves, and still figuring out how to live their best life.
I SO GET IT.
I wrote a blogpost last year wondering about where I could/should niche my ADHD coaching practice. I have discovered, to my delight, that I really enjoy coaching college and university students, and they make up about 75% of my clients right now.
Another neurodivergent coach once shared with me that an ADHD entrepreneur will feel energized to keep working (and not get bored) in a field where we can help a former version of ourselves. Well, the former version of me as a Business and then Political Science major is VERY interested in the experience of today’s college and university students who are earnestly, bravely and dedicatedly working away on their degrees.
So, for me, I know I’m doing the right thing, and I’m in my skill and interest zone, when I’m talking to my student clients week by week, supporting them getting some balance in life, leveling up studies, and leveling down social or screen time, and/or figuring out how to stay well or recover from illness, physically and academically. It’s a rough time.
My personal story of ADHD and university studies
Skip ahead if you want to read what I can do for you as an ADHD Academic Coach without the back story!
I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD back in the late 80’s and early 90s. I was just doing what everyone felt I was capable to do: a university degree. What happened was a classic story of struggle, self doubt, stretched deadlines, good marks on hastily written papers, worse marks on exams, decent marks over all, but not stellar. Many all-nighters. Many texts only skimmed at best, not read. Sitting mostly quietly in the back of most classes, feeling a touch lost, and still glad to be there, interested in the content on any social science class.
I recall now the ways I knew to help myself, that had others shake their heads: I owned a car, I was one of the first to have a home (monochromatic) desktop computer and printer. Looking back those expenses, (that others thought were unwise) were the best things I could do to help my executive function deficits. I could drive myself to school in the cold winter instead of walking (with the temptation to stay warm and home). I could work all night at my own computer, and print my own paper (on a dot-matrix printer, no less) and drop it off to the teacher early the next morning… maybe a day or two late, and loosing 10-20%, but it was done, and I didn’t have to sit in a busy computer lab, or wait to print at school. Yes, these were the oldie days before email and websites as they are now.
I also changed my university in the middle of second year, changed my major, took a year off (to work and then travel in Europe for 4 months in the summer of 1990), studied part-time and worked for a term, and finished a year later than those my age. I graduated with an Honours Degree in Political Science, International Relations Focus from Wilfrid Laurier University. The honours part hinged on passing a statistics course, and my luck had it that my project partner was very good at statistics, I was very good a writing. We made a fine team, and we passed the course with that symbiosis.
That was then:
My university experience was full of near misses, pleading for extensions and serendipity, as well as good intentions and hard work. But it was messy, I do admit. What would I have given to know that the reason for all the struggle was ADHD.
What a dream it would have been to have a coach who
knew the struggle and had ideas for me,
could listen, empathize and encourage,
as well as strategize about what to do differently.
This is now:
You can see why I can related to college and university students now, in 2023. The challenges are the same, though the technology has certainly evolved. The ADHD student struggle is real. I hear so many stories of break-downs, frustrations, bewildered sadness, good intentions with poor results, burnout, worried parents, stress and overwhelmed.
I want to help.
So, in my ADHD and Academic Coaching sessions I listen first. I ask, “so what’s happening”? And we go from there. Every student’s story is their own, but there are often similarities. Believe me, if you have a particular struggle, most ADHD students have had the same struggle.
Some of the things we could work on are:
time blocking for study time
chunking assignments into smaller incremental steps
strategizing about the best study locations
making time for exercise and seeing friends
getting more sleep, and sleeping earlier
study planning for mid-terms
making use of the student accommodations available
connecting with classmates to share notes and strategize for assignments and tests
when to push and when to rest
interleaving studies
avoiding skipped classes
how to get the accommodations available to you
and so much more!
I was very happy to hear that ADHD Academic Coaching is covered under the OSAP Bursary for Students with Disabilities. If you live in Ontario, you can get funding to cover the cost! I’m happy to provide you with any information you need to submit to the Student Accessibility Services office at your school to qualify for the Bursary. I love that this is available to make these supports possible to students who may not be able to afford it otherwise.
So, if you’ve read this far… be in touch and we can get started!
Just text or message me on WhatsApp at 416-605-8907 or email connie@interpurpose.com.
Let’s make some plans for December Exams or start off the new term with new supports.
Rock on!
~ Connie
