I recently received an email from a parent who is desperately frustrated over the struggles her middle-school son is facing. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and bi-polar disorder. School and everyday life, she says, is a real struggle; he looses everything and forgets everything. Like every other student I have met with these same characteristics, he also happens to be brilliant.
But, his mother says, All I hear is, Im stupid! Over and over again
Maybe he is.
There are several formal definitions of the word, stupid, according to Dictionary.com. In my world, however, stupid is the word I use to describe someone who has talents, gifts, and skills, but is choosing not to use them. Let me tell you, I know a lot of stupid people!
But, you dont have to be one of them. This struggling young man doesnt have to be, either.
Unfortunately, he is one of many, many students who think they are not smart for a variety of reasons. In his case, he is probably frustrated that he cannot organize and keep track of his papers as well as other classmates. There must be something wrong with me, he thinks.
There IS something wrong with you, he hears when he...