Graduation - 5/14/2008
Tuesday, June 24th 2008 @ 2:18 PM
Graduation Day -- I just wrote a speech I will give to my daughter at high school graduation tomorrow. Many of you know, as I wrote about in my book Journeys, that we adopted her when she was 10 from Russia. So you can imagine the struggles she has faced and how important a milestone this is for all of us.
I have learned many lessons over the last 8 years since we embarked on this journey together as a family. Much of what I have learned mirrors the lessons I have learned from my work with men and women with ADD over the years that also have great challenges as well as great strengths. With increasing frequency, I see that the lessons I learn about living successfully with ADD are true for anyone who struggles and confronts adversity and loss.
Part of what I write about in the speech I will give tomorrow at graduation, as well as what I will address in depth at the ADDA conference in July, is about the process that butterflies go through as they break free of their cocoons. It turns out it is a fierce but necessary struggle. Experiments have shown that when butterflies are removed from their cocoons without their having to go through the struggle themselves, those who didn't go through this process weren’t nearly as strong, many didn’t even survive, and those who did were not nearly as beautiful .
I will end this week’s blog as I will end my speech tomorrow with a quote from Helen Keller who certainly struggled and certainly succeeded- not in spite of the obstacles she faced, but because of the qualities she developed as a result of confronting them.
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
