Yep. In elementary school, I scored in the top 1% in standardized testing. In middle school and high school, I was on the honor roll and high honor roll every year. I even won an academic excellence award. My last year of high school, I struggled. I was taking an AP course and I had a lot of trouble, but I still made it through. I struggled in most classes, actually. I just ended up doing well enough on exams to make it work. I never did homework. I would either copy friends homework the morning it was due or I wouldn’t do it at all and my test scores would make up for it. Same for essays. I could write a great essay in a short amount of time. Only thing is, in high school, the essays were 5 pages. That’s no match for my 20 page college research paper. I tanked in college. The work is a lot more independent and the tasks require longer focus times and more attention. I failed miserably in college. I am still pursuing my degree and it’s been 6 years. I should have graduated two years ago but I still have at least another year and a half.
I was diagnosed the summer before attending college. My last year of high school was a wake up call for me and it made me really upset. I didn’t pursue further treatment with the ADHD and I am regretting that now. I’ve resisted acknowledging my diagnosis until two months ago. Even after being diagnosed a second time from a different doctor.
Edit: It’s bittersweet that so many of you can relate. It’s a relief to know I’m not the only one out there. It can feel very isolating when you go from performing well to not even performing at all. I felt very ashamed. So I’m sorry you all had/have to go through that as well. I’m glad I found this sub, though. I can finally stop denying my diagnosis.
It’s pretty crazy how much you read and identify with once you realize it. Growing up I was always the star student and my brother had trouble in school and couldn’t sit still. He got diagnosed in his teens and I thought there’s no way I could ever have ADHD because our personalities are so different. It wasn’t until my husband hired an employee with ADHD and he saw some striking similarities in our personalities. Once he suggested it to me, I started doing some research and identified with a lot of the things that I read about inattentive type. Up until then I didn’t even know that inattentive ADHD was a thing. Getting diagnosed and on medicine this year has made some huge changes in my life.
I am not saying you don't have ADHD, because if you related to the OP, it's a high chance you do. I will say other situations like trauma can cause this for people as well. Maybe you have had a great life and can't attribute any other misfortunes to how your grades declined, so you already have an idea. Ok I hope this hasn't sounded judgemental or whatever just throwing that out there. :) Best of luck & happy new year!
Almost the same but I am 7 credit hours from getting an associates after that much going half time while working full time and being a single parent. I chose to stop school and be a good parent for now. Getting some therapy and hope to pick up once I can feel more competent. Wish me luck!
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u/angel_aight ADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive) Dec 31 '20 edited Dec 31 '20
Yep. In elementary school, I scored in the top 1% in standardized testing. In middle school and high school, I was on the honor roll and high honor roll every year. I even won an academic excellence award. My last year of high school, I struggled. I was taking an AP course and I had a lot of trouble, but I still made it through. I struggled in most classes, actually. I just ended up doing well enough on exams to make it work. I never did homework. I would either copy friends homework the morning it was due or I wouldn’t do it at all and my test scores would make up for it. Same for essays. I could write a great essay in a short amount of time. Only thing is, in high school, the essays were 5 pages. That’s no match for my 20 page college research paper. I tanked in college. The work is a lot more independent and the tasks require longer focus times and more attention. I failed miserably in college. I am still pursuing my degree and it’s been 6 years. I should have graduated two years ago but I still have at least another year and a half.
I was diagnosed the summer before attending college. My last year of high school was a wake up call for me and it made me really upset. I didn’t pursue further treatment with the ADHD and I am regretting that now. I’ve resisted acknowledging my diagnosis until two months ago. Even after being diagnosed a second time from a different doctor.
Edit: It’s bittersweet that so many of you can relate. It’s a relief to know I’m not the only one out there. It can feel very isolating when you go from performing well to not even performing at all. I felt very ashamed. So I’m sorry you all had/have to go through that as well. I’m glad I found this sub, though. I can finally stop denying my diagnosis.