Today is the last day of my son’s first semester of college. It has been an educational semester to say the least. Okay, I will be honest. It has been a challenge.
When the semester first started, I wrote some posts about my son’s ADD and college. I didn’t post what I wrote as I tried to figure out new boundaries for myself and my son; what I can write about and what I can’t. I have been off the grid for a while trying to figure this out.
However, today is cause for celebration. S made it through the semester. It hasn’t been easy. He has worked EXTREMELY hard. He has studied a lot.
My son attends college as a student with three identified disabilities: Cerebral Palsy - Spastic Quadriplegia, Low Vision, and ADD. He had accommodations in place before the semester started. His professors have been awesome about working with him so he could be successful. His biggest challenges came from his ADD: organization skills, time management, creating and executing a plan, and prioritizing tasks.
I have so many scenarios I could write about showcasing his challenges, but I haven’t. Today’s scenario kind of wraps it all up.
For his last final, my son had to write a final essay (500-750 words) to be turned in at 1:30 today. We planned on leaving at 12:30. He had to write a final analysis of his writing throughout the semester for his English class. They have had the opportunity to do extra credit related to this final project after each essay. He has done that. He was setting himself up for success. He created a study plan to get himself through finals. He knew what needed to be done to keep himself on track. That train derailed early on…..
Last night, he was typing his essay. We recommended that he finish it last night so he could sleep in today. I will skip all of the boring details. Here was what happened.
Today’s schedule:
2:30 AM: S came upstairs kicking each step on the way which woke me up. He informed me he wasn’t finished.
7:30 AM: S woke up to finish writing.
9:00 AM: Told me he was almost finished
11:00 AM: Thought he was done. Not sure on his word count. Checked it. He had 305 words. Better write some a lot more.
11:30 AM: Had 490 words. Wrote one more sentence to push it to 504.
12:27 PM: Printed paper. Couldn’t find his phone. Needed a backpack to put his paper in. Needed a pencil.
1:40 PM: I received a text from him that his paper was turned in.
At the end of the day (or semester), he finished. He made it through. Next semester needs to be different. He knows what areas he really needs to work on to help himself get through school and life a little easier.
I will be on the couch with chocolate and wine. I think my husband may join me on the couch with a beer. Enjoy your weekend! We will.
