As I flipped through the worn-out pages of my old school yearbook, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The memories of those golden days came flooding back, as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. We had a tradition back then, a poem that we wrote together, where each of us got a shout-out for what we were known for. And guess what? My tag was ‘naughty and loud’—a classic, right?
I was that kid—the one who always had something to say, the one who couldn’t sit still, the one who was always up for a bit of mischief. I even had a VIP seat right up front by Ms. Selby, the teacher who must’ve had the patience of a saint to put up with my antics. Does that sound like someone you know?
Ms. Selby was a gem, though. Her kindness probably kept me from bailing on school altogether. She saw something in me that others didn’t. She saw potential amidst the chaos. I bet if it was today, they’d slap an ADHD label on me in a heartbeat. (I know I would).
And in high school? One of my teachers thought I was a lost cause, said I’d never cut it in medicine. But hey, I showed them. I worked my tail off just to prove them wrong. I was still a bit of a troublemaker, sure, but I had learned to channel my energy into something productive. I had learned to tone down the volume.
Big cheers to Ms. Selby, wherever she is. I’ve been trying to track her down to say thanks, but no luck yet. Wherever you are, Ms. Selby, you made a huge difference. You saw a mischievous kid and instead of giving up, you gave him a chance. You taught me that everyone has potential, that everyone deserves a chance. Thank you for everything.
So here’s to all the Ms. Selbys out there, to all the teachers who see potential in every student, who believe in their students even when they don’t believe in themselves. You rock!
#schoolteachersrock #adhdstories #empathy #connection
