4 ms·
A big middle finger to my ~top 20 public university who wouldn't give me any accommodations of extra time because they required some ridiculous hoops to jump th
by sizzle 6y ago
A big middle finger to my ~top 20 public university who wouldn't give me any accommodations of extra time because they required some ridiculous hoops to jump through proving I had trouble concentrating and finishing an exam in the allotted time, they wanted substantial documentation with brain scans showing I had a deficit all because ADHD isn't considered a bonafide disability by the government. I almost flunked out cause of some calculus and organic/biochemistry classes that required tons of rote memorization (pre-med before switching to computer major).
Even though I'm successful now in tech with a huge salary, this experience of being treated like I had a made-up disorder (can't easily perceive it with no physical impairment/more obvious mental issues), and was invisible to the system full of cold-hearted academic administrators quick to academically disqualify me still makes me seethe and feel wronged to this very day.
Can anyone relate?
- _dibly 6y agoI'm in community college, but my experience in high school was basically identical to yours. High school and the beginning of college were a nightmare for me for essentially the same reasons you describe. I still feel like I'm shaking off some kind of imposter syndrome when I'm interviewing for a new client. Students used to seethe when my test scores were read because, despite testing top of the class I never did any extracurricular work or engaged in class very much. Eventually even the teachers started to treat me like a burnout. I'd start a new semester and the teacher would already know who I was from chatting in the teachers' lounge. At least in community college the student/faculty pool is wide enough that I can avoid those types of interactions, plus the switch to computer science and some decent ADHD meds have made all the difference.