I'm taking this exam, my heart is pumping and everything in me is trying to weight things out in my mind so I can concentrate. By the time I'm on my 3rd question everyone already turned the page. Inside I'm so ****ed at myself for not being able to concentrate. The only thing that works is yelling at myself inside my head to get through it. At various points in the test I start wondering around something else and I have to yell GET BACK HERE FERNANDO!! NEXT QUESTION! SHUT UP!! Question #25 and people start to get up and go. I need to rush through the other half of this test. 10 more questions ahead and mostly everyone is gone. Luckily, is an hour and fifteen minute class, I still have some time. I finish and everyone has already been gone for a while, except me and some other guy in the back. I turn the test in and then there's me walking towards my car repeating in my head, "I won't give up, I just won't give up." The sad part is that studying for this test was even worst.

Today, I'm sitting in Marketing Research class and Dr. Powell says: For those of you in Sales, the test scores were horrible, but congratulations to the highest scores and the only two A's in the class to Fernando (me) and Heather. For once I could truly understand what it means to have 'fire in one's eyes.' No matter what is thrown at one, we HAVE to fight and don't let the circumstances transform our lives. I've been through so much trying to study. This is not about having the highest grade in the class. I had the highest grade in Accounting, Management and several tests. Is about my struggle taking every single test I've ever taken and not being able to concentrate, yet still being able to overcome because of my will to suck it up and succeed.

ADD can be very negative in your life, but if you have the will to jump this hurdle, you gain strength that not many people have. After years with ADD, the best way to deal with it is to have the right attitude in life. The struggles define us, don't let ANYTHING hold you back.

I completely understand, although its my graduate work that is really building my self esteem. I love getting great grades on work! I call my parents after each of my grade reports comes back to thank them for the skills and pride they instilled in me. I wasn't diagnosed/medicated until high school, after junior high had been horrible. However horrible it may have been, I learned how to do a lot for myself without any excuses. ADHD is really okay! Plus- try ear plugs during tests. I find it helps a lot! Marie

That is just beautiful!!! Way to go I hope you treated yourself to a positive enforcement treat after class? Yes, even adults deserve incentives to try harder and keep fighting with every breath they have. :D I'm a firm believer in BMP's but only if used with positive reinforcement.

I find it difficult to stay focused while studying when I have so many pans on the fire. I'm many things besides student, I'm a wife, mother, co-worker, sister, employer, employee, friend.

My biggest distractions are my kids and their needs. I worry while studying that I'm not meeting their emotional needs or am neglecting them in someway to acheive my dream. Thats when I hear their daddy yell out "shhh mommy is studying, or you had better not even think about bugging your mom". Thats when I remember and am grateful I have a co-pilot in everything I do and strive for and it makes me focus and try that much harder while in the back of my mind praying for all those mother's and father's out there struggling to better themselves thru higher education without the help of a co-pilot.

I watch my sister get A's without trying and being able to manage a full house at the sametime with no noticable slack. So, my house is a little messy and the babies clothes don't match and I missed a question on my A&P exam I still got an A and I have all the extra credit work I can do done and handed in so my GPA can handle this 2 points off.

Its taken me a long time but I've finally learned that there is truth in what I've been telling my kids...I can be and do anything I set my mind to. It may take me a little longer or a lot more work but acheiving my goal will only be that much more sweet. :D

Advice from an old war horse--Keep dreaming, keep reaching and remember its never too late.

That is awesome, congratulations!! It is so good to hear people share good news and their successes! I am happy to hear you did so well. Keep it up!

it's amazing how will power could get though you anything

Congratulations! Surprisingly good grades are the best surprise. One time I had a prof write "good job" with a little smiley face on a lab practical. A little funny, but it felt better than finding a $20 bill on the side walk.
Congratulations again on a job well done! These kinds of things are totally empowering. I also think a special treat is the way to go.

I just found out today that I didn't miss a question on the last quiz. I listed the kidneys as an organ found in the abdominal cavity when actually its in the sub-abdominal cavity since they sit behind the parietal pariteneal membrane BUT the big lifesaver was that the study guide she handed out listed the kidneys so I got a 100!!!!!! Which is really great because I know I missed two questions on my exam today lol....Never ever change your answers.