Life As A Neurodivergent

I was told I had ADHD in pre-k. I was put in the Normal Nursery of the University of Michigan…

My Dad worked there…

In school I was put in classes where I would not clash with the teacher teaching.

In my teens they tried to get me to take Ritilan. It didn’t work. Also I chew pills—so it didn’t work there either.

My grades were never great—but my attendance was 100% In 10th grade I hit a wall—we were living in California—I had been there since the 2nd grade.

When we moved to New Orleans I took 10th grade again.

There were 2 good private schools in that area and I didn’t qualify for one—my sister did but couldn’t go because Mom and Dad wanted us in the same school—I feel bad because years later I found out the Peyton Manning would have been a classmate…

Also when I was put back—I was so oblivious I didn’t realize it. The school decided that I wouldn’t be a fit for the 11th grade class which had 40 girls in it—10th grade had about 25 and was split into two groups—the achievers and the also rans—I fit in well with the also rans.

I was in that school for 10th and 11th grade—then we moved to Wisconsin and I made it to 12th grade—my senior year—I graduated—I still had an then went to college for 1 semester.

It took a couple of years but I finished my Core classes …

When I was 31 I went back for 2 years and got my Associates degree in Graphic Design

School was never easy—but I studied just enough to pass and graduate (at the Straz in Tampa Bay, Florida) in 2006.

In January of 2001 I found my wheelhouse job: pickup and delivery—starting with CBs and hand scanners and walkie talkies—gradually working into using my phone and GPS as maps were the norm when I first started…

I went to school to get a degree because I had failed right out of high school—kept it going until June 12, 2006—Graduation Day

My whole family was there—my Aunt had to sit out because we were given 5 seats—Sam didn’t make it.

Samantha, my sister, and I were two totally different people growing up—our paths never really crossed except at dinner time—we ate meals most of the time together (the 4 of us)

My parents didn’t understand me and thought I was lazy—and didn’t know what to do about my moods…They never left me alone with each other—what I’d consider a double team.

The rest of my family tried their best to be on my side.

In 2017, after living with my parents in their house since 2004–when it was built in 2003. I moved to an apartment in Tampa.

I was the oldest one in the room of 4. This didn’t go well—and my moods were off and on.

In October 2022 then (Elsa—the Mgr of where I was living) found me a new place—where I live now…The only problem with arrangement is that my parents had to sign on as guarennteers—-not like in 2017. They did—I’m here.

My Mom is the keeper of all things me—except finances and my stuff because of my disability.

It has kept me from keeping a normal full time job. Social Security pays for my rent and a few bills each month—yes, I had to work in the world for over 15 years to get these benefits…

I worked for Manpower for 9 years in two different states—and a lot of short term jobs.

The end of 2024 I went back into pickup and delivery…I do Sparks or gigs as a side hustle to get money to live on—this year I’ve probably made to much and when taxes come out next year I’m going to get hit up—or lose Social Security all together—I HOPE NOT!!!

Over the past few years I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist—he sees me for an hour once every 4-5 months and prescribes my meds which I have been faithfully taking for about four years now—after the first year of trying to find out how many mg I should be taking

We figured it out and now expect for the things that are needed—I’m pretty independent.

I pick when I work and what I do in my free time.

It’s a good life—when I don’t feel alone.

My parents have made it clear I can call them once a day—this is our biggest fight—what I think is important compared to what they do.

My finances are ALWAYS on my mind. I have lists everywhere—if I can’t see it—it doesn’t get done. Proceed As If Success Is Inevitable. Done