Finding the Super Powers Within w/ Dr. April Lisbon | Ep. 10: Ali Idriss
(17 minutes) Dr. April Lisbon believes the differences in our brains can really be our super powers. In this series finale episode, she speaks with self-advocate Ali Idriss. Ali shares his journey with ADHD.
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TRANSCRIPTION:
DR APRIL LISBON (AL):
Hello. Welcome to another amazing episode of finding the superpowers within. I am your host, Dr. April J. Lisbon your workplace autism advocate. Ladies and gentlemen, I am super excited to have today’s guest, Mr. Ali Idriss. Ali is doing some amazing things within his community. And I don’t want to butcher his bio because I’m telling you he is phenomenal. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, please give it a try. Ali Idriss. Ali, thank you so much for being on the show today.
ALI IDRISS (AI):
Thank you Dr. Lisbon. How we doing everybody? I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Ali Idriss. I’m a just entered fourth year student at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. I’m majoring in biology aspiring to be a physician pre med is my path and that’s my goal. I’ve been interning shadowing, volunteering building my resume to get into medical school. And my fields of interest ranged from you know, trauma center cardiology, infectious disease and gastroenterology. I just I love medicine as a whole. And I’ve been interning at different brains as well where I’m writing my story about my ADHD since I was diagnosed ADHD is seven years old. And I’m on the social media team, the research team doing a bunch of stuff there. I’m a little fun fact about myself. I live five years of my life in Lebanon, where I learned about the culture and I became fluent in Arabic right now I can speak and read and write Arabic. And yeah, that’s that’s pretty much it. That’s me. That’s Ali.
AL:
Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. Oh, funny. So I heard you say that you were officially diagnosed at age seven. I know this has been several years ago. But can you tell us a little bit about whose seven year old Ollie was and what did he look like back then?
AI:
So seven year old Ali was a little bullet I’ll tell you you know um, it was around six years old five to six years old when I started acting up and in school. I went to Christchurch for elementary here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And I was I was a real good student straight A’s and everything but I hadn’t really hyperactive and attention impulsive issues you know, I was always hyperactive distracting others getting out of my seat. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t control myself. I not only distract myself but distract others I was I couldn’t multitask. And I was just very you know, I was I was a hyper little kid I was a troublemaker Long Story Short. And you know what sometimes my friends I take things away from them, distract them tap them talk when I wasn’t needed to. So my you know, my teachers were a bit concerned. And they talked to my mother and my mother said What should I do? So they told me they should he should go get tested for maybe ADHD seems a bit hyper a little and tend to have an impulsive now um, she ended up taking me to a nova right here in Nova Southeastern they have a psychological services little thing to get tested for ADHD. Why did multiple tests my IQ etc, etc. and next thing you know, I got tested for ADHD inattentive type. And it really kind of woke us up a bit, you know, now I can do therapy. Now I know what’s wrong with me. We can move on from there. And the doing a little bit therapy for a couple months. I think it was about six months. It also gave me some medication as well. We went through the whole you know, the rundown when some diagnosed ADHD, but um, that’s basically how it went down. And since then, I’ve been you know, working with my ADHD, my attentiveness, my hyperactivity, obviously, I’ve grown kind of maybe out of the hyperactive and the restlessness part. You know, you kind of grow up and you’re not a little kid anymore. You have to run all the time. But um, yeah, that’s that’s basically how it went down around seven years old. And no, it was it’s it was a little bumpy road, but you know, here I am.
AL:
Wow, that’s wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Tell us a little bit about some of the trials and some of the trips that you’ve actually experienced, having been diagnosed with ADHD. So she already touched a little bit about when you were in grade school, but can you share with us a little bit about how this has impacted you, as a college student?
AI:
As a college student, see, it’s different, you know, I’ve went through a lot as Kidding Oh, I told you I was hyperactive I couldn’t you know sit down and say controlled. I’m self control and hyperactivity was a big thing as well as an attentiveness. You know, when I was a little kid, they would have to seat me near the teacher away from my bestest of friends because I couldn’t be able to, they would have to sometimes punish me when we timeout things like that. I kind of grew out of it. I moved to Lebanon for five years. So things were a bit different things changed, it was a little tougher on me. And I kind of grew out of the hyperactive stage I was more kind of inattentive, I still am a bit you know, hyperactive here and there I get a little excited sometimes. But I became more attentive and I A multitasking complaint, taxing focus was a bit of a trouble of mine. But with time I, you know, I researched I looked into things, um, I also took medication whenever I needed to, which kind of calmed me down. You know, some people don’t agree Some people think otherwise of medication. But I think you know, if it’s used that moderation i think is a good thing. But here I am as a college student, and I have calendars as you can tell right here. I have whiteboards after renew this school starts next week, I keep flashcards in my pockets around my to dues. I use my screensaver on my phone, right down to dues. I always have reminders, you know, I got to stay organized and disciplined, because that’s how it is. having ADHD are a bit all over the place, you have multiple tabs open as a college student, you know, and you have multiple classes and multiple due dates. And it’s sometimes hard to sit down focus when you have your phone next to you buzzing and going on and off. So that these are the things that helped me, you know, the calendar, the flashcards to Do’s, it relieves the stress of it, making sure you’re surrounded by people who understand your ADHD people understand where you’re going through, and remind you to stay on top of your tasks. So, you know, as a college student, as long as you have these tools, it’s key. And I’ve learned that through time, I’ve joined Different Brains and nonprofit organization, they have a menu, they have a mentorship program, I’ve learned a lot about ADHD and I, I’ve actually been teaching others I’m developing this web series over there on ADHD tools, writing a little bit of myself. So that’s basically it, you know, it’s you really got it, find those tools to help you as a college student is hard, especially with all the pressure, you know, you’re becoming independent. And it’s it’s hard to say discipline organized.
AL:
Yes, good information, please tell us one or two things you would want your younger self to know about this ADHD journey.
AI:
I would like tell my younger self, um, you’re young, you’ve got time to make mistakes, you know, you are you’re young gotta make mistakes, you’re in the grow every year is a new year, every year, you evolve into a more organized self, no matter what, you know, you as long as you surround yourself by your parents, your friends, your family, and those who understand your diagnosis, ADHD or whatever it is, and and push you forward to be more productive and organized. And kind of make it normal, you know, it’s not really an issue be hyper sometimes or be impulsive or goof around. It’s not right, you know, it’s, it’s something you know, creative and my through my eyes, something fun and the end of the day, and, and attention. There’s always tools out there. Once you’re comfortable with your schedule and everything, it’s easier to focus and relieve that stress. I think it’s it’s, I would tell my younger self. Go online, find, do some research. Don’t believe everything out there. Because there’s, you know, always something that that’s not right. But you know, um, talk to people and let them understand what you’re going through and it will get you will get better you’ll be you’ll end up evolving and growing. You’re young, you’re just time to make mistakes.
AL:
That’s good information. Thank you so much. So I know that you mentioned parents and surrounding yourself with a good support network. What would you want parents and advocates to know about supporting an individual with ADHD?
AI:
Well, when when you say parents, I always think of my mother. My mother helped me out big, big, big time. She was a crucial part of my life. She listened to the teachers who thought there was an issue and she ended up taking me to therapy she would have taken me giving trying medication on me Whatever it is, she basically educated me on my diagnosis. So I ended up knowing what I had I was I was aware of what I had and that is key as long as you see something wrong and take action ask questions go out there talk to a psychologist, executive function coach, whatever it is a psychological center a teacher, someone use a little more educated The subject because, you know, my mom was a big crucial, she was really curious and she bought multiple books, I’m telling you, she had stacks of books on children HD parenting with ADHD. And she helped me out big time, she kept me she helped me stay focused with calendars as a young kid, she would, you know, award me or reward me when I would, you know, finish something on time to finish tasks on time, she helped me out big time. And I think every other parent out there should indeed surround children by better habits and educate themselves and the children make them feel good about it. Because it’s not something bad, you’re not unable. It’s not when it’s, it’s a disability. Yeah, but you’re not unable you are able, and once you create those adaptive skills, you end up, you know, getting the superpower. That’s basically what it is. So, you know, as I said, earlier, parents should educate themselves and, and the children and you know, you’ll excel no matter what.
AL:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Because sometimes as parents, you know, we read everything that’s online, we’re listening to, you know, everything that’s happening with other kids, you know, thinking, Oh, my gosh, what if I’m doing it wrong, so to hear, you know, kudos to your mom for, you know, taking action, for not being afraid to ask those tough questions for trying things, you know, that she felt was in your best interest. And, you know, just hearing that, because I know, as a parent, sometimes that can be very scary for you, because you have one set of parents say, you know, yes, you need to do this. And then the other set of parents say, No, you’re gonna hurt your child, you know, but I think Ali makes a good point that you have to do what’s in the best interest of your child. But not only that, what’s in the best interest of your child as far as like medication, but more importantly, creating advocacy in your child, giving them the power to learn more about their superpower, learn more about their diagnosis, so that they too can can like I tell people buy into it, you know, not seeing it as, you know, something bad, but like, he has seen him as something that’s creative, you know, something that makes him unique, something that makes other neurodiverse learners, you know, unique individuals, and then being sure that you are educating them with the best tools, so that they can grow up to be successful, like Ali.
AI:
100% 100%. Exactly.
AL:
So my next question to you is this, you know, I know you’re a college student, but eventually you’re going to be out in the workforce for us on the job market and things of that nature. So what what you want? And this is a two part question. The first part of the question is, what would you want your future employer to know about supporting someone with ADHD in the workplace? And then the second question is, what would you want your future colleagues to know about supporting someone with ADHD in the workplace?
AI:
I think understanding is key understanding that they have ADHD, and accepting it, finding ways and tools and you know, little, little ways to figure out how they can be a part of the workplace and do better for the workplace because there’s always something that’s strength that you they have the person me or a person with ADHD has, that someone else doesn’t, you know, we’re all like, you know, I like a little saying by Rebecca Reitman, it says all brains are like snowflakes, not every, every single one is completely different. You know, we all have a different strength that someone else has a weakness of, and it’s key to embrace that and see people with ADHD as creative people, people who like to get on the move, you know, it’s, you know, we are a little bit hyperactive impulsive and attentive, but we like staying on the move something that’s non stop, you know, how high paced and something new every day and that’s key, that’s, that’s our environment. And even if it’s not on the pace, or on the move, sitting in the desk in the cubicle, there are ways and tools to help you do good and end up you know, strengthening the workplace selling. And it was what else was it was employer and colleagues. Yeah, both of them both understanding supporting each other. You know, it’s if it’s, you have a colleague, there’s two people in team, someone can do something, someone to someone else, and it’s all based off who’s stronger out what and I think there’s always spaces always something out there for everyone, you know?
AL:
Yes, I do. I do. I agree with you. 100%. Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe we’re coming down to the end of tonight’s show, today’s show, but I had one final question that I wanted to ask you. Hmm, where do you see yourself three to six months from now, after having done today’s interview?
AI:
Three, six months from now. Well, I wanna I want to switch up and do a little farther, if that’s okay. Six months out. I will still be as a senior in school I will. I’m working on an ADHD episode I’ll be done with that. I’ll be finished up with a bunch of research shadowing and interning building my resume usual. Especially during these trying times Coronavirus has been a little damper on everything. But you know, we got to keep moving forward. But in in, I see myself and another year to three in the future and one year I’ll be graduating out of college and another year I’ll be applying to medical school another year I’ll be in medical school. So that is the goal to keep moving forward helping others you know, being on the show. It’s amazing. I my goal is to get into medical school nine now one day I will get into medical school and I was diagnosed with ADHD at seven years old, you will create the adaptive skills to turn your disability into a superpower. It’s as simple as that it is something where you can be creative and helpful in the community You’re in no matter what there’s, there’s always those tools and tips and surroundings that will help you excel. And I see myself growing every year by year getting better and better no matter what. There’s always there’s always room for growth every every day is another experience and others thing you learn as you move on. And yeah, my goal is to you know, help people, as you know, one said become a physician and help people now people you know, with ADHD, and whatever I could do.
AL:
Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Ali for being on today’s show. Ladies and gentlemen, this is another amazing episode of finding the superpowers within. I am your host, Dr. April J. Lisbon in your workplace autism advocate. I hope that this episode encourages you to not only share this episode with other neurodiverse learners, but if you or someone you know has a diagnosis of ADHD, as you can see, there is always hope. Yes, it may not look the way how you want it to when they’re young, they’re younger. But as Ali has already shown, and he has proven that, you know, there are certain things that you will outgrow and there is nothing there is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it. So once again, Ali, thank you so much for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for tuning in. It has always pleasure to serve you here on Finding the Super Powers Within. Bye!
