Sixth of October City, EGYPT – From the early ages, humans understood the prize of knowledge – it helps us grow.
In the 21st century, being educated has become the standard. But that can often be demanding for neurodivergent folk.
For most of my school years, I spent the majority of my energy focusing during classes, as it comes harder for me to focus than others. By the time I went back home, I was too drained to work on my studies.
This doesn’t have to be the case for you, though. Believe it or not, I managed to graduate this year!
One of the things that had a major hold on my life was social media. It made me waste time scrolling – and I would also feel mentally worse the longer I kept scrolling. My attention span – which was already bad – was affected, too.
I had to make the difficult decision to delete social media apps.
People assume that they would miss out by not being updated on the state of the world, or major trends. In reality, people around you discuss news all the time.
Being mindful of the media you consume can be great for you, especially if it’s recurring news that is filling your feed. I loved switching out my morning social media scrolling for reading Youth Journalism International articles as I ate breakfast!
Speaking of breakfast – it’s truly the most important meal of the day. It’s a great feeling when your belly feels full with food before leaving for school.
What you eat at the start of the day can also influence your mood for the rest of it. Food has to be nourishing, and you should incorporate all food groups in all your meals. This is especially important for us neurodivergent folk.
I found myself less focused and really overwhelmed at school if I hadn’t eaten a proper breakfast.
Breakfast makes you energetic enough to get through the day, and also helps with your mental health! Don’t underestimate the power of food.
Having had a delicious breakfast, you’re now ready to attend your classes. But you’re still losing focus.
One of the things you should not do is feel ashamed. Remember that our brains are wired a bit differently than others. Maybe the teacher is not as engaging as you’d like them to be, or maybe the topic might be too hard. These are all valid reasons why school may be difficult for some.
And that’s why you can always ask for help. Don’t be afraid of raising your hand in class if you’re lost. Ask questions if you can’t understand the topic. Most especially, don’t be afraid of asking the “stupid” questions!
Neurodivergent folk can find that they may not learn as easily as others because the teachers may not explain small details that they think are obvious. These details often made me more confused if they were not mentioned, so don’t feel shy about asking!
A teacher’s job is to help their students learn.
As students, we can witness our classmates’ achievements. I would often compare myself to them and get depressed.
But my strengths are different from their strengths, and it is unfair for me to compare myself to others. It’s also important to focus on those strengths and making time for them outside of the academic bubble.
Always make time for your interests and what makes you happy.
Lastly, always be appreciative of your efforts. Understand how far you’ve come and how hard you’re working, even if the achievements are small.
Talk to a counselor or teacher if you feel like your learning problems are getting in the way. Stay strong!
Jana Salama is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
