4: Self-Silencing, From Deficit to Strength, Achieving a PhD

Today we are chatting with Angela, a recent UConn Structural Engineering graduate who studied with Dr. Zaghi. Angela shows how she not only came to accept her ADHD, but turn it into a strategic advantage in her graduate studies.

Angela reflects on her educational journey, touching on how traits related to her ADHD, like risk-taking and creative problem solving, helped her to become a better researcher and engineer. Revisiting discrete moments across Angela’s path from primary school to her doctorate unfolds into a discussion of systemic issues in the mindset around seeing ADHD as a problem rather than a strength and how this mindset contributes to pressure felt by neurodiverse students to silence their authentic selves, especially in the classroom. In this discussion of finding herself in the research environment, Angela leaves us with a model of how building self-awareness, embracing one’s strengths, and being bold enough to change paths can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Square Pegs is a series of intimate conversations about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Engineering. In each episode, we talk to neurodiverse students and experts in the field of neurodiversity.

Send feedback about Square Pegs to [e-mail] or find us at squarepegspodcast.com.

01:09 Guest intro: Angela, a structural engineer and recent graduate of UConn who studied under Dr. Zaghi during her PhD

04:39 Gaining confidence to hop into new topics without experience

10:42 Grad school and the accuracy of the narrative that you have to stay in the field of our PhD forever

14:50 Childhood and ADHD in primary school as the “disruptor”

18:51 ADHD, self-silencing, and not being able to be yourself

23:43 Middle school and starting to find excitement in STEM

26:21 High school and getting into engineering over biology

30:20 ADHD and difficulties with focusing while reading and writing

34:10 Strengths in math and pivoting to engineering

36:00 Entering college, getting an official ADHD diagnosis, and making sense of personal changes

47:00 Arash discussing his ADHD diagnosis later in life and coming to terms with himself

55:31 The impacts of the deficit-based mindset around ADHD and it’s impact on the individual

59:48 The final years of undergrad and getting into the lab for the first time

1:05:55 Research as a meaningful alternative for ADHD learning over traditional methods

1:09:47 Angela’s research during her PhD, and looking back

1:14:27 Pivoting from Civil grad school to her current job

1:17:39 Final thoughts and advice to past Angela