"Go take your Ritalin . . ."

by by
Charlotte

Pedro was a boy with a lot of problems who went to my old school. He lost his temper fairly easily, and he would sometimes throw things at someone or something. Almost every day and every class he would get kicked out because he never knew when to shut his mouth. The regular remark that the students would say as he left the room was "go take your Ritalin!" I ignored this comment for some time, until one day in the dining room. I decided that I had heard enough. I was the only one who understood his problems and behavior because I understood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.)

I understood because I have Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) without the hyperactivity. I never defended him before because I was too afraid that people might treat me the same way. Every day I would hear some smart-mouth make a comment about Ritalin that was so untrue! It really started to get under my skin and make me very angry. The kids in my class were so ignorant. They thought that kids who were on Ritalin needed it or they would go "psycho" and do something harmful.

I finally came out and said "it" because I was so fed up with the crap kids had been saying. "Listen guys, leave Pedro alone. I have A.D.D. too, and I am on the same medication. I am really sick of you guys going around making fun of him and the medication. Because I have the same problems, and every time someone says something it is hurting me too. So please stop." "Oh!" is what my friends said. They were shocked because I appeared to be perfectly "normal", to them. I told that Ritalin is needed for many people who have A.D.H.D., and it helps make the chemicals in the brain connect faster and run smoothly. That was that, and I never heard them pick on Pedro or make a joke again, at least not around me.

I felt the need to speak up to make the point of what medication was really for, and to let the kids know the truth about Ritalin. I have found that if kids don't know the truth about A.D.D. and Ritalin they would just live off the rumors and lies that they believe to be true. At that moment I didn't care what people thought of me. I had heard enough abuse and felt that I needed to speak out.

To this day, Pedro still does not know what I did for him, but it was just not for him. It was for me and all the kids that have A.D.H.D. and take Ritalin or another medication. I don't regret what I did because now maybe some kids have more understanding and respect for those who have A.D.H.D. and need to take Ritalin.