I attended The Craig School between 6th and 8th grade. Those three years became a huge turning point in my life. Before I came to Craig I was shy and unsure of myself. I dreaded going to school every day because I just wasn't good at it! The Craig Schooll was totally different from any other school I had been to. That's because the teachers at Craig genuinely cared and understood that not everyone learns the same way. My teachers at Craig took the time to get to know me, my strengths, my interests and used that to help motivate me. That's why Craig's Club Program helped me the most to become a better student. Having an incentive to work towards kept me focused and gave me that drive to do my best!

Playing sports at Craig also helped me to grow. Mr. Furlong was my coach for soccer and basketball. He saw my love for sports and believed in my abilities as an athlete. He asked me to play on Craig's lacrosse team that spring even though it was a sport I had never played before, and I would be the only girl on the team! I remember my first game getting hit with a stick to my hand and coming off the field not wanting to play anymore. Mr. Furlong still encouraged me to get back out there and keep playing. Lacrosse ended up being one of my favorite sports. I played throughout my time at Craig, in high school and in college. Playing sports for Mr. Furlong taught me important life lessons about teamwork, leadership, resilience and dedication.

These are qualities that helped shape me into the person I am today!

When I graduated from The Craig School, I had grown in many ways. I had become much more outgoing and gained so much confidence in myself. That was 20 years ago and I still attribute a lot of my success in life to The Craig School helping me find my full potential and knowing I am able to achieve anything I set my mind to. Which has helped me recently in my journey writing a book and becoming a children's book author! Throughout the years I have stayed connected with Craig. I have friends that I met while at Craig that I still keep in touch with. I enjoy coming back to visit Craig campus and attend alumni events.

The Craig School has a great sense of community and support that will always be like a family to me!

The Strength of ADHD

At six years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Before my diagnosis, I was unmotivated to do my schoolwork. I felt I wasn't capable because of how much I struggled to do basic academic tasks. Because of my academic struggles, it was recommended that I be tested for ADHD.

Initially being diagnosed with ADHD did not change much. My high energy would lead towards disruptions. My time management was harmfully poor.

Everything changed, however, when I enrolled into the Craig School, which specializes in teaching non-traditional students.

Craig School teachers put an emphasis on developing healthy coping mechanisms. They helped me learn how to direct my high energy towards more productive outlets. They also helped me learn effective time management skills. These lessons developed into proper study habits, which in turn established a previously unexpected desire to learn.

Without my ADHD, my study habits, and my passion for learning that came with them, may not have developed.

While these academic lessons laid the groundwork for my academic success, the Craig School also taught me a lesson that would become essential to my personal development; that my ADHD is something to be celebrated rather than feared. My ADHD has granted me traits that have been advantageous towards my academic and professional development. I have directed my high energy into academics and passions like instructing

Taekwondo. I have used the hyper-fixations commonly associated with ADHD to motivate myself towards being the best student and the best worker I can be.

With a more positive outlook on my ADHD, I was able to develop empathy for others. I used to think I was less capable than my peers. I was wrong.

I have used the memory of this feeling, and the memory of overcoming it, to help my students realize that they too are just as capable as their peers.