Service Array:
Individual Skill Development and Enhancement
I grew up in a hectic family environment during my childhood. I was born in Wisconsin, but my parents moved us around a lot, resulting in me having to make new friends and readjust several times. After my parents finally settled down in Colfax, Wisconsin, I started experiencing extreme difficulty, academically and socially at school. Through the input of my parents, teachers, and a behavioral psychologist, I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of ten.
Between the struggles of being unable to complete tasks or manage my attention span and the divorce of my parents when I was 12 years old, I struggled to succeed in both education and socially for most of my life. I always felt different from others around me because I struggled with simple tasks that other kids found easy.
After years of experimenting with various medications I finally found a good fit and it took me almost failing out of college to really understand how important medication was for my personal struggles. I used to view medication as a crutch but now I view it more as reading glasses for my brain. After adjusting to regularly taking my medication and learning various coping techniques to help manage my hyperactivity I finally managed to get to a level where I could succeed academically and professionally. I discovered that I had a passion for helping kids to succeed in life, so I became a middle school and high school science teacher.
I was able to function as an educator, club advisor, and coach, however I was unable to meet the standards set by the school districts because my behavior deviated from that of my neurotypical coworkers. I tried to make things work at three separate school districts, but failed to do so at each one, so after my third year I left teaching. The few months following my leave from teaching I went through a period of depression, during this period I began to see a therapist. During my therapy sessions I learned the mental health benefits of periodical therapy sessions and benefits of learning self-advocacy for neurodivergent individuals like me. I discovered that being neurodivergent required asking for the appropriate accommodations in any environment, whether it be at home, school, or work, and that it was fully within my rights to ask for those accommodations so that I could succeed in tasks in any of those environments.
In 2018, I reconnected with an old classmate, who introduced me to CrossFit. I greatly enjoy CrossFit and have developed a very healthy relationship with physical fitness and food, as well as making many friends at my gym. In 2022 I earned my Level 1 CrossFit Trainer Certification and discovered great enjoyment in helping people to meet their fitness goals. When I learned about, We Adapt shortly after, I saw an opportunity to help individuals.
I want everyone going through mental health situations, traumatic life experiences, or neurodivergence to be able to experience what I wanted to hear growing up and that is that they are not lesser than their peers. I want to help others learn skills to cope with their adversities, advocate for themselves, and learn the appropriate accommodations that they need to succeed in life because of their adversity, not despite it.