Because I struggled with undergrad so much the first go round, I thought my GPA was trash. For some reason, I remember it being in the low to mid 2.0s, which for me was low, given I did really well early in school then just got progressively worse into high school and college (a common ADHD thing — who else?).

I got a copy of my transcript as part of grad school application recently and I was reviewing my individual grades. While I did do poorly in some classes (boring requirements), literally got an F in one class (at the peak of my struggle with school/depression and I overslept for the final), and I had to take one class twice* (intentionally difficult/weedout prerequisite for the degree/major I pursued), I walked out with a complete degree and a 2.99 GPA. My university counts a 3.0 as “above average.” !!!!!!!

So, even with all that stress and confusion from being in the dark about my ADHD, no meds and no support, I still came out above average — I am floored. I was already excited about grad school but now I’m even more pumped that I have more experience with managing and treating my diagnosis.

One of the first things you read about ADHD or that your clinician/specialist/therapist says is “you’re not dumb.” For the longest time I mostly believed the idea of this after accepting my diagnosis. But I still remembered my experience worse than it was and kinda regretted I didn’t know my diagnosis earlier or I wished I could have done better in school. I guess my wish came true! :)

*My favorite part was I had completely forgotten that the professor in my first attempt at this early weedout class was the same professor later on for my final senior capstone class, which I got an A in. Love a redemption story haha