So, school. Everyone has a different experience when it comes to school, but something that we often rarely talk about is the “gifted” kids. The kids who are considered talented at something or even just academically advanced. A lot of times, these kids are often isolated because teachers often hold them to a higher standard than other students, and the other students steer clear of them due to preconceived bias. As someone who was considered “gifted”, I’ve often found myself unable to interact with others. It’s interesting to look back on my school experience because after accepting my ADHD diagnosis, I’ve realized that a lot of what made me gifted could be attributed to ADHD.
And that’s why I’ve never understood why ADHD and other Neurodivergent diagnosis weren’t being accommodated. There’s always been this notion that “gifted” students are given priority as schools want to put their best students out there. But what I realized is that we’re only as valuable as long as we’re bringing benefit to the school. And that’s where the major issue comes into play. Instead of nurturing the talent, they expect us to hone it with minimal input. We are “gifted” after all. We shouldn’t need that much support or struggle with anything that is put in front of us.
So whether you’re “gifted”, Neurodivergent, or disabled, schools don’t care a lot about us beyond the public perception. Just like the workplace, the more your abilities benefit the school or business, the more they pretend to take care of you. Once that benefit is gone, then you’re just excess goods that can be replaced. And regardless of what skills you offer, it’s up to you to polish them.
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