ADHD
ADHD
As reported in today’s NY Times, according to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of five high school boys in America have ADHD. For those of us with kids in high school, I don’t think this surprises any of us. While it clearly creates challenges for society, my “cup half full” mentality wants to provide a slightly different view about the future of America given the news.
Try this: Google “ADHD and Creativity” and read some of the compelling literature. Now check out this recent story in Psychology Today titled: “Is Creativity the #1 Skill For the 21st Century”. Fascinating! Maybe we can turn lemons into lemonade by simply readjusting our perspective and developing an action plan that is focused on getting people to soar with their strengths.
I spent five years teaching kids to play music as CEO of the School of Rock. Along the way I watched thousands (and a large amount of kids with ADHD) build skills, build confidence and develop into interesting teens with compelling futures. Everyday here at One River I see people with an internal drive to push their creative skill set and I am certain that it is creating better outcomes for both kids and adults.
I say this not in a way to discount serious developmental issues. I share it with the hope that we fuel people’s passions, their innate differences and their capacities to be excellent at things that are truly required in today and tomorrow’s economy. Remember, Steve Jobs dropped out of school to create Apple and I can list thousands of super successful adults with some form of ADHD who have found the right thing and the right mentors to tap their unique success formula. I can share my own story as a starting point…
Monday, April 1, 2013
