President

As I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8 years old, I was automatically put in the box of the disruptive kids. For most of my life, I thought that ADHD was only about lacking concentration and not being able to remain seated. I felt so different from everyone else and didn't understand why. I felt so lonely to be in a world where everything seemed illogical and where I didn't feel like I belonged. When I got re-diagnosed around 17 years old, and after my school refused my application to disability services because one of my teacher had claimed that I was ‘attentive’ in class, I dug into what ADHD really meant. I started doubting myself, I tried to understand what was ‘wrong’ with me. I looked into autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, psychomotor disorders and so on and so forth. I read many books, watched many videos, talked to many psychiatrists and finally got interested in the neuroscience and psychology of ADHD. And that’s when I understood that no, I wasn't crazy, I was just different, and other people were the same as me. Today still, when people find out I have ADHD, they usually answer: "but you don't look like you have ADHD", but just as me when I was on the path of understanding what being neurodivergent meant, I realised that they were just ignorant of the underlying conditions of these cognitive differences. I eventually chose to study Psychology & Philosophy to broaden my understanding of human conditions and human thoughts. And from then, my mental health improved as much as the self-management of my overflowing emotions. I understand what neurodivergent people go through, I understand their struggles and I understand their loneliness. I believe that if I was made president of the neurodivergent society, I could support neurodivergent students and most importantly, make all of us support each other. I would try to organise talks from neuroscience and psychology lecturers so they can explain to us the science behind neuroatypical conditions. I would try to bring social psychologists to talk to us and explain why neurotypical people don’t understand us, and perhaps try to explain the difference in how they see the world. We could perhaps link with one of the theatre society to make a small play that illustrates the life of neurodivergent people, or team with the neural networks society to raise overall awareness of the struggles we, neurodivergents, encounter; but also explain why being neurodivergent is a gift. Overall, I know I can bring a lot to the members of this society and to their surroundings and anyone willing to know a bit more about neurodivergence. 
My aim is to make people accept and embrace their difference, and make them understand better what they are going through. I aim to bring people that resemble each other together rather than leaving them alienated. I want the world to recognise neurodivergence as a FULL cognitive difference, understand it, and take it into consideration. I will try my best and work as hard as I can (will probably end up hyper focusing on it haha) to make a difference across the university and give support to anyone who needs it.