When Understanding Takes Work: How ADD Strengthened My Academic Voice by Kristen

When Understanding Takes Work: How ADD Strengthened My Academic Voice by Kristen - July 2026 Scholarship Essay

For much of my academic life, reading comprehension was one of my greatest challenges. Living with ADD meant that reading wasn’t a simple act of absorbing information — it was a constant negotiation with a mind that moved quickly, wandered easily, and often struggled to stay anchored long enough to understand dense or complex text. While other students could read straight through a chapter and recall every detail, I often found myself rereading the same paragraph multiple times, only to realize I still couldn’t explain what it meant. What began as a frustrating barrier eventually became the foundation of my strongest academic skill: critical thinking.

Because traditional reading strategies didn’t work for me, I had to develop my own. I learned to break passages into small, manageable sections and summarize each one in my own words. I asked myself questions constantly — What is the author trying to say? Why does this detail matter? How does this idea connect to the larger theme? Instead of passively absorbing information, I actively interrogated it. Over time, this approach transformed the way I engaged with text. I wasn’t just reading; I was analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting.

A major turning point came in high school during a science class that felt overwhelming. The textbook was dense, the concepts layered, and my ADD made it difficult to follow the logic of each chapter. That was when I discovered Varsity Tutors as a resource. Working with a tutor helped me break down complex scientific ideas into smaller, understandable parts. They taught me how to identify the main idea before diving into details, how to approach each concept step by step, and how to ask the right questions to deepen my understanding. What I learned through Varsity Tutors didn’t just help me pass the class — it strengthened the critical thinking strategies I had already begun developing. It showed me that with the right tools and support, I could master even the subjects that once felt impossible.

These skills continued to grow, and eventually, they opened doors I once thought were out of reach. The most meaningful example of this was my admission into Spelman’s Honors College. To qualify, I had to meet rigorous academic standards and write a critical thinking essay responding to a passage centered on intellectual curiosity, humility, and self‑awareness. As I read the passage, I realized that these values mirrored the very skills I had been cultivating through my struggles with ADD and my experiences with Varsity Tutors. My challenges had taught me to approach ideas with curiosity rather than frustration, to acknowledge what I didn’t understand, and to reflect deeply on my own thinking.

When I wrote my Honors College essay, I wasn’t simply demonstrating comprehension — I was demonstrating growth. I broke down the author’s argument, examined the nuances of their message, and connected the concept to my own experiences as a learner. Receiving my acceptance into Spelman’s Honors College wasn’t just an academic achievement; it was a personal affirmation. The skills I had built through perseverance, creativity, and support had become the very strengths that distinguished me as a scholar.

Now, as a rising senior at Spelman College majoring in Health Science, those critical thinking skills shape my academic identity every day. They guide me as I study the complexities of the human body, analyze scientific research, and prepare for my future career. My dream is to become an OBGYN, a role that requires not only medical expertise but also deep empathy, careful reasoning, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions under pressure. The resilience I developed through my ADD journey — and the support I received from resources like Varsity Tutors — has prepared me to meet those demands with confidence.

What once felt like a struggle has become one of the most defining parts of my academic identity. ADD didn’t limit my ability to succeed — it taught me how to succeed with intention, curiosity, and humility. And those are the qualities I will carry with me into medical school, into my future work in women’s health, and into every challenge that lies ahead.