Dear Parents of the future children I will teach one day,

I have ADHD and I know this may come as a shock to you. You pictured your child's teacher to be perfect: hair tied back in a neat pony, nice neat desk with a brand new box of freshly sharpened pencils on it and desks in rows facing the smart-board.

This is my vision too. But you are beginning to wonder, "don't people with ADHD have organizational issues?" Well, yes, some of us do, but I am one of the most organized people you will ever meet. The desks will not be in rows, but rather groups of four or five so the students can talk and work with one another.

There will not be piles of papers ungraded scattered everywhere.

There will not be letters sent home from me explaining why I fell behind on grading.

Yes, I have a learning disability and yes, I will be teaching your children one day.

Fear no harm, my learning disability is not contagious. I promise you.

Before I explain why you should not fear for your children, let me explain to you how my teachers treated me as a student.

In Kindergarten, I was always being told to sit down and stop getting out of my seat. My teacher did not understand that I simply needed to stand up and get the wiggles out. I promise you, your kindergartener's days will be filled with fun activities filled with chances for social interaction while getting their wiggles out.

In first grade, I was told to stop sharpening my pencil, to stop breaking it, to do my homework, and don't forget. I remember getting yelled at in front of the whole class for forgetting my folder in my backpack.

In second grade, I was yelled at for looking at the ceiling (which had netting hanging from it for a rain forest unit) which was obviously very distracting to me.

In third grade, I was yelled at and belittled in front of the whole class for finishing a worksheet first. I had accommodations at the time which allowed me extra time if I needed it. When I went to hand in my multiplication worksheet, I was turned away by my teacher who told me that "I was not allowed to be the first one done and she spoke to my mom." Embarrassed, upset, and confused, I returned back to my seat and checked over my worksheet until I was the last one to hand it in. When I went to hand it in, she asked me if I looked it over and, of course, I said yes. She threatened me by saying "If it wasn't all correct she would call my mother."

In fourth grade, I was yelled at in front of the whole class because I would always forget my homework. She made me call my father in front of class and have him bring my homework to school for me.

In fifth grade, when we would change seats I was not allowed to pick where I wanted to sit. When the other students would ask me why, I would shrug my shoulders and say I wasn't sure.

As a future teacher, I will promise you that I will never yell at your child in front of other students.

I will promise you that I will never call out your child for wrong doing in front of the whole class.

I will promise you that I will never embarrass your child in front of the whole class.

I will promise you that I will never make your child feel uncomfortable in any way, shape or form.

I will promise you that I will keep your child's education private and not involve other students in it.

I promise you that I will care for your child while they are under my care.

I promise you that your child will come home happy every day excited to tell you what they did in school today.

I promise that I will touch your student's heart and make them love school for years to come.

I promise that I will not treat your children the way my teachers treated me.

The reason I want to be a teacher is because of the way I was treated in school as a child, and how unfair it was for me to be pointed out that I was "different" by none other than the teachers.

I want to show children that school can be fun and learning is exciting. I want to show them the alternatives to worksheets and homework.

But overall, I want to show them that they matter and that they can be anything they want to be when they grow up.

Sincerely,

A senior college student who can't wait to teach your children.