October is ADHD Awareness Month, which rings especially loudly for me—since I went through 12 years of school and even my freshman year at Stanford without being aware that I had ADHD.
Somehow, I navigated some of the most rigorous schools—Trinity, Riverdale, and even Stanford—as an A student. It wasn’t until I founded Curious Cardinals that I finally realized how differently my brain works.
For many neurodivergent kids, school can feel like navigating a system that wasn't designed for how their brain operates. That was me too, often feeling like I wasn't 'enough' because I couldn’t focus like everyone else.
So how did I go so long without knowing? As a high-functioning overachiever, I developed strong executive function skills—like organization, planning, and time management—to keep myself on track (without even knowing why I needed to!).
Looking back, undiagnosed ADHD took a toll on my confidence. When I got distracted in science or struggled with math, those negative voices crept in: “What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you just focus?” But in some ways, I’m grateful I didn’t know—I might have used ADHD as a crutch instead of facing challenges head-on.
Instead of holding me back, ADHD pushed me to work harder. I took more notes than anyone. When I got injured during track, I found that walking or biking while studying helped me focus—not the safest method, but it worked for me.
ADHD built my resilience. It taught me that what works for everyone else may not work for you, and that’s okay. You just have to find what helps you succeed.
My advice for neurodivergent learners?
If your child has ADHD, dyslexia, or another learning difference, know that they’ll be okay—with proactive strategies and support to set them up for success.
Curious Cardinals is here to match neurodiverse learners—or as we like to say, "neurospicy" or "neurosparkly"—with mentors who understand their learning needs. Whether the mentor shares their learning differences or has extensive experience with neurodiverse students, we're here to guide them.
We’re offering a free advice and guidance session with Caity - a summa cum laude Stanford grad and executive function specialist - to discuss your child’s unique needs, alongside Joe or Ian from our family admissions team:
- Personalized support: Whether diagnosed or exploring options, seek input on your child's needs.
- Expert advice: Learn how Curious Cardinals can help, and get recommendations from trusted specialists.
- Empowering approaches: Discover how near-peer, passion-based learning supports neurodiverse students.
Your learner deserves to feel confident and capable. And I promise we can get them there. We're here when you're ready.
Stay Curious,
Audrey Wisch
