Taking Control of ADHD as a Student

By Coral Levkovitz

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR AT UNC-CHAPEL HILL. DESPITE MY 20/20 VISION, MY DIAGNOSIS FELT AS THOUGH I HAD PUT ON A FRESH PAIR OF PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AFTER YEARS OF A BLURRED PERCEPTION OF REALITY. MY FIRST THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE HAD CAUSED MY CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF AND MY ABILITIES TO PLUMMET, AND I WAS COMPELLED TO RECONSIDER MY ENTIRE LIFE’S PURPOSE. I ALMOST GAVE UP ON MY DREAMS OF BECOMING A PHYSICIAN. AS A DAUGHTER OF ISRAELI PARENTS, I WAS A FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT IN AMERICA WITH A PATH TO CARVE FOR MY TWO YOUNGER SIBLINGS, BUT I WAS HITTING ROADBLOCKS THAT WERE HINDERING ME FROM REACHING MY DESTINATION. MY ACTIONS WERE BEING HEAVILY IMPEDED.

Initially, I saw my ADHD diagnosis as a disability that would deter me from reaching my full potential. Blessings and burdens, however, are not mutually exclusive. This fresh pair of glasses was allowing me to see I was not being punished with my new medicine, testing accommodations, and “special attention” in class; rather, I was given an advantage. Since my diagnosis, I have been a successful student with the grades to prove it. If you are a student (or a parent of a student) newly diagnosed with ADHD, let me be your reminder that sometimes our biggest obstacles are, in fact, paths disguised as impediments that we must conquer to reach our full potential.

Along with my diagnosis, I had to make a few changes to the way I managed my studies in order to succeed. I had to become organized in a way that worked for my brain, and I realized I could not adopt the study habits of my non-ADHD peers. So instead, I created my own. Below are some practices that changed the game for me. I hope they help you as well!

1. Schedule and plan

Regardless of if it is two days or two months away, I ALWAYS write down my deadlines and due dates for any projects, assignments, or exams. Using a weekly/monthly planner (the one I use is $9.34 on Amazon) allows me to have my to-do list in one place, rather than having numerous journals and apps and lists to check to ensure I am fulfilling my responsibilities. In addition to a due date, I write reminders 24 hours and one week before the date itself, just so I am aware of what is coming up and I can stay on top of my work. Color coding my dates is also a lifesaver—exams are one color, homework/assignment deadlines are another, etc. (the colored erasable pens I get are on Amazon for $11.99 and have lasted me two years).

2. Start early so as not to fall behind

As a person with ADHD, I’ve found that completing assignments and studying for exams usually takes me longer than my peers, and I have come to accept and love this! Because of this, I have learned it is best for me to begin early rather than procrastinate and stress out. Give yourself the extra time. If you end up not needing it, great! You will have extra time for some self-care. This brings me to my next point.

3. Take care of your body

Exercise has been a blessing in my life. Even 10 minutes of movement is better than nothing, and it makes such a difference in energy levels and motivation in school! In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, it was found that “exercise positively impacts executive functions and attentional control in children with ADHD” and that consistent and long-term exercise is correlated with improvement in several cognitive functions (Christiansen et al., 2019). For further motivation, follow my fitness page @coralsfitness on Instagram! I post daily workouts for all levels of experience, as well as nutrition advice and tips on balancing health with life as a student. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is important too! I find limiting my caffeine intake and setting alarms for eating and drinking has allowed my body to recalibrate to my usual appetite. ADHD medicine can reduce appetite, so it is crucial to set up reminders to feed your body!

4. Take care of your mind

Alongside my diagnosis, I began practicing meditation and mindfulness. This helped reduce my testing anxiety and gain control of my focus. This can be done by watching/listening to free videos on YouTube (search guided meditation for ADHD/ anxiety/sleep, etc.) or downloading Headspace, which is an app you can use that will provide you with daily meditations and will track your progress (for students, it costs $9.99 per YEAR)! Learning to control ADHD is empowering. If I can do it, I know you can too.

5. Find support

Before my diagnosis, I was never one to ask for help; I thought I could do everything on my own. If I want you to take anything away from this article, let it be this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You can find people to support you through this journey, and you can find others just like you that can help you with whatever you need. For example, after watching a TedX talk by Jessica McCabe, I joined her “How to ADHD” community and have felt empowered and inspired by her content. Reach out to your school and discuss ways they can accommodate your ADHD. Be proud of who you are and find others you can teach and/or learn from.

Long story short, set yourself up for success! You can be in control of your ADHD rather than having it control you. Being a student with ADHD can be difficult at first, but once you find what works for you, the world is full of endless opportunities! You can do whatever you set your mind to, no matter what anyone says. Set goals for yourself and go out there and crush them. Believe in yourself, and the world will follow suit. Best of luck!

Sources

Christiansen, L., Beck, M. M., Bilenberg, N., Wienecke, J., Astrup, A., Lundbye-Jensen, J. (2019) Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: Potential Mechanisms and Evidence-based Recommendations. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(6), 841. https://doi.org/10.3390/ jcm8060841

Coral Levkovitz is a 23-year-old future physician. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. Coral is a second-degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and a licensed EMT. She currently works as a group fitness instructor for cancer survivors and is pursuing medical school. She hopes her journey with ADHD will inspire others to become the best version of themselves and to pursue their dreams.