The sun is shining brightly through the trees right outside of the classroom window. It’s late August, and all I want to do is be outside with my friends I just reunited with two days ago. Whether it’s having a picnic, hiking, throwing a frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, walking around campus discussing our summertime adventures, or simply lying in the grass I would do anything to be anywhere but in this physics classroom. It is 8:15 am and I have the energy level only a peppy, sleep deprived girl with ADHD can attain. I take my seat and put another coat of lipstick on. I just left breakfast, so reapplication is more than necessary, especially considering that today is the first day of classes. Every girl tries especially hard to look good on day one.

Our professor walks in and does a few demonstrations involving magnets. Apparently, a large part of physics II is all about magnetism. I absolutely love magnets. Last year, when I was sad, my one friend let me play with his neodymium magnets. They made me feel so happy so quickly. Crap! I must pay attention. I glance at the clock on the wall. 8:30 am. It has only been ten minutes since class started and I become more antsy. I begin tapping my foot and playing with the hair tie that was wrapped around my wrist seconds before. I really wish I could exercise all of this energy away. I am not used to being stuck inside a classroom sitting still for hours on end anymore. I have not done this since finals week in May.

The Panic! At The Disco song, “There’s a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven’t Thought of it Yet” blasts through my head at high mental volume. Through the catchy chorus, rebellious lyrics sprinkled with insanity, and the constant yet subtle clash of cymbals, this song always seems to continue playing through my brain. Not that I mind, for this is one of my favorite songs at the moment. The only downside is the unnecessarily long title. I quickly realize that I got distracted again, so I start tapping my foot to help me focus.

As the professor goes on about what we will cover this year I realize I have not prepared for this class over the summer like I intended. I looked over last semester’s material on an airplane in mid-June, but now it’s August 29 and I have no idea what I’m doing. I anxiously click my mechanical pencil as I realize I had forgotten everything from calculus II, and I will have to take the calculus III gateway quiz this week. I mentally scold myself for not being on top of my work, especially the last few weeks. I was too busy binge-watching TV shows and tubing down the local river with my friends to prepare for this week of class. I should have studied. For now, I am with the friends I have not seen in four months and I would rather hang out with them this afternoon instead of being cramped in my suite.

Everyone picks up their pencils and I realize I still hadn’t given this professor my full attention. Luckily, he repeats his instructions for the attendance sheets he passed out at the beginning of class. I write what I am told and check the clock. It is already 9:00. Funny, how the first ten minutes seemed to be infinitely longer than the past thirty. I realize I am much more relaxed after being forced to stay in my seat for 40 minutes. I look to my left and see my best friend, who also has ADHD. We are both seated front and center, which should help us focus a little. He saved me last semester, for physics comes naturally to him. I struggled until he helped me through the class. I finished with an A- and felt proud of myself and the hours of work I regularly put into that class.

Papers shuffle into folders into backpacks around the room. I check the clock. 9:10 am. I survived the first class of the semester. I immediately stand up and head out the door, ready to face my second challenge of the day, Technical Communications.