Jordan Nied was at college for almost a full year before he realized he had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“I always felt like I was not living up to my full potential,” Nied said. “It often felt like no matter how well I was doing in school, I wasn’t doing as well as I could do.”
Characterized by an inability to focus, fidgeting, and a lack of impulse control, students with ADHD can often struggle in classrooms and with homework. Roughly 5 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 17 have ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now a junior, Nied runs a peer support group for those with ADHD through the Ambler Health and Wellness Center. The group meets each week to share information about the disorder and to build a community.
Nied said although ADHD comes with struggles, it also has its benefits — like creativity and increased empathy.
“My brain won’t turn off,” Nied said, “but I’m always generating ideas.”
Although there are resources for students with learning disabilities offered through the dean’s office, Nied said he wished there was more awareness of ADHD on campus. He said he hopes this group will be able to break down some of the stigmas surrounding the disorder.
“I want people who are struggling with it to realize there’s a bunch of other people on campus,” Nied said. “I don’t want people to think they’re broken.”
The group meets on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Lane 235 B. For more information, contact Jordan Nied at jnied@hillsdale.edu