"My mother wants me to tell you that I have ADHD."

My student, PK, he told me this on the 2nd day of a 3 day workshop.

By then, I already knew he is one even if he did not inform me.

He annoyed me so much that I told him to write me an essay of 50 words to explain why he cannot behave himself in class.

And he wrote this...



Initially, his reason was...I have ADHD...

Then I ask him, what is the real reason...WHY? as in...yes he has ADHD...but what makes him want to walk around the class to disturb people and cannot stop annoying people...

He wrote the last line on the paper.

"I feel lonely."

I regretted what I did a while ago in class...

I yelled at him from across the classroom to stop him hurting his classmates,
and to shut him up at one point when my blood really boils.

By saying it nicely to him is useless.

After the horrible experience on the second day especially when my colleague came and saw how disorganise the class was...thanks to PK, I felt totally exhausted.

Third day which was also the last, I collected evaluation forms from the students.

And PK wrote in his comment about me,
"she is alright but she can do better if she...did not shout"

I was totally sadden by his comment.

I wish I don't have to shout too.

I feel bad. Maybe there are better ways to stop him. But I was too angry to think.

But I am thankful for his comment. which on the last day serve as my best reason to ask him to cooperate in class.

Everytime he acted up...
I will tell him...
I will be nice to you if you are nice to me.
If you want me to treat you nicely, then you have to treat me nicely first.

It works in the end.

The last day of workshop end in peace with only tiny hiccups.

He was a good boy on the third day and we become friends.

I genuinely wanted to help him.
Only when he is willing to let me.

He did.

He painted patiently finally for the last 2 pieces of works.
I praise him for his good work.

Almost towards the end of the day when we are already good friends...
At one point, he came to me whispering in my ear...

"Miss Shiah, I want to tell you a secret. My father almost become artist. But he gave up being an artist to marry my mother."

I smile.