Anna and Attention Deficit

As with many American families, I have had personal experience with ADD. When my sister was still in elementary school, we noticed that she had some very interesting learning differences. Not always bad differences, and certainly not barring her intellectual capacity, my parents opted to take her to an alternative doctor; One who would simply diagnose the problem rather than trying to correct it.

You see, my sister is one of the smartest, deepest people I know. Her mind is one of the most creative and beautiful I have encountered. She draws and paints and writes on a different level than almost anyone I know.

She applies this creativity to her academics as well, coming up with new ways of doing math problems. Most of the time, I can’t begin to understand her methods, yet she always arrives at the correct answer.

At the same time, Anna does face some learning challenges.

Guidelines are difficult for her to follow, and she considers even the clearest deadlines flexible.

Her work is almost always put off until the last minute, causing her to look less academic on paper.

If she is not passionate about the topic, she simply will not focus.

So, when my sister was still a little girl, my parents had a choice.

To medicate, or not to medicate.

Their decision was simple. By putting my sister on some form of ADD medicine, they would be doing her a disservice. Especially in creative individuals, the most negative side affect of medication, such as Ritalin, is that it gets rid of sparks of creativity. Medication would numb that part of my sister that looks out the window during class at something that five minutes later is an ornate sketch in her notebook.

Yes, she would be able to study longer and with more focus, but no longer would she be able to stretch her mind as she sought out new ways of solving math equations. No longer would she have those creative peaks that fuel her art, writing and dreams.

I understand that there are two sides to this debate. I know there are children who simply cannot function without the aid of medicine. But at the same time, medication for ADD or ADHD is not something that should be taken lightly.

Thomas Eddison was told he was stupid because according to the traditional academic standards, he did not function at capacity. He went on to be one of the greatest inventors in history.

Pablo Picasso, Edgar Allen Poe, Bill Gates and Benjamin Franklin all suffered from ADD or ADHD.

They weren’t normal. They thought differently and dreamed different dreams, and yet each individual made contributions to the world that are profound, to say the least.

We say that America is declining. We say that as the generations progress, so is this idea of mediocracy.

Perhaps it isn’t the fault of the individual, but of the system.

By drugging some of the world’s greatest minds into submission to the system, perhaps America is digging her own grave.