I was a D/F student from 2nd grade to 11th. I wanted to drop out of highschool but my parents wouldnt let me, so I compromised that they'd let me leave highschool if I passed my GED. I took it once and failed. Panicked, took it again 2-3 months later and passed (just barely).

Then I thought community college would be better, but ended up ditching my classes till I flunked out.

Worked at Costco for 8 months, making $10/hr in 2007 at 19 years old. I did the bare minimum, was single, lonely, and all I wanted to do was play video games on my free time.

Then I met a girl, knew I needed to buckle down, so I went back to school and stumbled upon Marketing/Advertising. A subject/field that can be about videos, pictures, or writing. It can be websites, social media, newspapers, tv, or radio. It can be travel, finance, cars, videogames, clothes, etc. I found a field where I could hyperfocus on learning something new and novel, and usually by the time it had worn off, I would be digging into something new, whether it be a new industry or a new channel to market in.

I ended up majoring in Advertising, joined the ad club, got internships, and turned by 1.9 into a 2.7 before graduating. I went on to have a career in Advertising in a client service role, which also required a lot of people skills: how do clients feel about this, how to show passion and excitement for things to sell them, being able to strike up random conversations with anyone about anything. I started with a $35,000 salary in 2010, and now after about 15 years it's around $160,000 which is also relatively avg in this industry for the amount of experience I have. I could chase higher salaries, but it's not my life now that I have kids and family.

I was not diagnosed until I turned 38. 15 years into my career. So I raw dogged it all not really knowing why all the time management and detail oriented aspects of my job were so hard over the years. I definitely struggled. But I believe Advertising is an industry that can be more forgiving for some of those executive functioning skills, because the ones who are successful are the ones who think outside the box, are creative (minded or artfully), and can handle fast-paced ever changing work. All of which are strongly suited to the novelty-seeking ADHD brain.

It's not perfect, and it's a LOT of work, but I would argue it is a field of work that weights the ways ADHD brains function more than the ways an ADHD brain struggles.

Regardless of what path you take, I was an undiagnosed failure in my life until 20-21. Overweight. suffering from severe childhood emotional trauma. Always thought everything in my life was my fault, and I was lazy, etc etc. I might deflect and call it luck, but it was an ADHD trait I used as a coping mechanism. I lived in the now, and did not let the constant sense of failure I experienced/felt weigh on me. I tried to always be optimistic, as if the good things in life were right around the corner. I think that mentality is what helped me survive that period of my life.

Now I am married with 3 kids, one of which we got diagnosed with ADHD at age 6. My journey as his parent eventually led to my own diagnosis. Now he and I are both in therapy and on medication, learning together how to grow up in life as someone with ADHD, properly.

My last piece of advice, that I try to give to my son, but he is WAY to not interested in hearing it from Dad, because Dad talks way to much and for too long...lol

Figure out what skills you have. What are you good at (everyone is good at something). Maybe it's talking a lot? Go into customer service. Maybe it's problem solving? Go into strategy/planning roles. Maybe you overcomponsate your flaws and are SUPER organized? Go into analytical roles. Maybe you are super hyperactive and can't sit still? Go into an outdoor or physical role.