1# Diary of a teenager with Dyslexia & ADHD

Summary

Part one of Hector’s diary entry details his experience navigating life with dyslexia and ADHD, and moving to a new school at 14.

When I moved to Devon at 14, I had lived in London my whole life. We had visited Dorset a few times, but I don’t recall ever going to Devon. When we moved, we settled into a small flat not far from where we live now. We stayed there for about two weeks. Starting at my new school was nerve-wracking—it wasn’t the nicest place, but it was fine.

When I first toured the school, I was shown around by a tall man in a blue coat and a yellow beanie. His name was Mike Morgan, and he was sort of the guardian of my house, Babbage. The school felt enormous to me, though it only had about 200 more students than my previous one—700 compared to 500. It seemed bigger because it was new.

On my first day, I was brought to my tutor room, which was filled with smiling faces. It was slightly nerve-racking since I didn’t know anyone. The tutor asked if I wanted to be shown around the other classrooms, and I quickly replied, “Yes, that would be great.”

Two boys, one short and one tall, immediately raised their hands to volunteer they were called Sonny and Max. They didn’t seem like my type, but I didn’t mind—it was my first day, and I would’ve been friends with anyone.  However, the teacher immediately dismissed them, which made me think they might be class clowns or troublemakers.  Instead, she asked two other students, another short one and another tall one. They looked like nerds to me—probably because of how eagerly they said, “Yes, Miss, 100%! We’d love to show him around.” One wore glasses, and the other had short, curly blonde hair they were called Luis and Rafe.

As I was being taken around the school by these slightly awkward boys, they asked me where I was from and why I had moved here. I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just said I had heard good things about the school and the area.

The day went by quickly, and I don’t remember much else. I just remember feeling relieved when I got home. I didn’t make any friends that first day—or the second or third—but soon after, I met two boys: one tall, one short. Their names were Teo and Charlie. 

I was best friends with them for about a year and we did every thing together literally everything.  We hung out after school every day.  We were always seen together in the corridors with a few others but we didn’t really know them as well.  Teo and Charlie weren’t friends until I joined the school.  After my first year Charlie grew distant to me and Teo.  He started hanging out with different people.  Teo and I are still really close now, after two years. I haven’t seen Charlie in about seven months and I haven’t heard from him either.  I wasn’t really upset he stopped hanging out with me, more that I have a feeling I will never see him again and that makes me feel sad.

After the first year I began to make friends with another boy called Ernie.  I spent about a solid six months going to his house nearly every weekend.  It was so much fun.  We would drink and smoke and go on walks and skate and do all sorts of stuff.  I consider it may be one of the best summers of my life, non stop fun all the time.  After about three months of being friends with Ernie, I joined his friend group and started hanging out with them.  They were all really cool and into the same stuff I was into.  It’s like we were all clones on a planet, only we were allowed to venture to.  Life was at its peak.  We were going to parties every weekend, all the time. We still do.  I think I still go to parties because I want to get that feeling back of my first party. 

My first party was a friend of a friends party at a park.  We all showed up about eleven.  I was really nervous and wanted to go home as we were walking there but when we got there it was crazy.  There were about seventy people all screaming and dancing.  It was amazing.  I have been to parties with more people but somehow this was one of the best parties ever.  I barely remember it.  I woke up in my garden with a hooters shirt I don’t own and cargo shorts I wasn’t wearing.  It was great.

I have loved my move to Totnes.

Annabel Douglas

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