WEBVTT

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Hello brains!

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I say that to you because...
if you think about it.

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It wasn't really you
that decided to come here today.

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It was your brain.

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And whether you decided 
to walk or drive, take a taxi, ride a bike

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That decision was decided
by your brain.

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Behavior, all behavior,
is affected by your brain.

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This is a story about my brain.

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So, I was a smart kid. By 18 months I
was speaking in full sentences.

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By third grade I was scoring 
post high school on standardized tests.

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I had as all my teacher's agreed,
so much potential.

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I was also struggling.
I didn't have many... any friends.

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Outside of books.
I was easily overwhelmed.

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I spaced out in class.
I lost things, constantly.

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And trying to get my brain to focus on 
something I wasn't excited about...

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was like trying to nail Jell-O
to the wall.

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But I was smart.
So nobody was worried.

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It wasn't until middle school 
when I was responsible for

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getting myself to classes on time,
and remembering to bring my own homework.

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That being smart wasn't enough anymore,
and my grades started to suffer.

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My mom took me to the doctor
and after a comprehensive evaluation.

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I was diagnosed with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

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ADHD.

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If you're not familiar with ADHD 
it has three primary characteristics.

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Inattention, impulsivity, 
and hyperactivity.

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Some people with ADHD 
have more of the inattentive presentation.

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Those are the daydreamers,
the space cadets.

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Some have more of 
the hyperactive/impulsive presentation.

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Those are the kids that usually
get diagnosed early.

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But, the most common presentation
is a combination of both.

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My doctor and my parents decided 
that given my shiny new diagnosis.

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Maybe stimulant medication would succeed,
where spankings and lectures had failed.

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So I tried it.
And it worked.

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The first time I took my medication 
it was like putting on glasses.

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And realizing I could see, 
without squinting.

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I could focus!

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Without changing anything 
my GPA went up a full point.

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Honestly it was kind of miraculous.
By 14 I had friends, that liked me.

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By 15 I had published my first poem.
I got a boyfriend.

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By 17 I knew I wanted 
to be a journalist.

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My local college had a program that would
guarantee admission to USC.

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They had a really 
great journalism program.