The Promise of Berkeley, UC Berkeley Parents and Alumni Magazine, “Faces of Excellence: Nothing to hide,” Spring 2008
Republished, Copyright © UC Regents. All rights reserved. Orignal
Interviews with People Magazine and National Public Radio, book signings on both coasts — the grind of promoting a book can be difficult for even the most experienced author. But for Blake Taylor, a Cal freshman-turned-author, it’s surprisingly manageable.
And considering that Taylor suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s downright impressive.
Taylor’s new memoir, ADHD & me: what i learned from lighting fires at the dinner table, candidly describes how the 18-year-old from Hillsborough, California, grew up handling the neurological condition, which affects more than 4 million young people. Since the age of five, he has dealt with ADHD, characterized by distractibility and impulsivity on one hand, and intelligence and creativity on the other.
Today, he manages his ADHD through medication, channeling his energy, and time management.
“The way I cope with the distraction is always having a set rhythm for the day,” he says, noting that he wakes up at the same time each morning and spends specific amounts of time studying, working out, and socializing. “Because I have a plan, I’m able to time-manage my work, interviews, or any other commitments.”
He also registered with Berkeley’s Disabled Students’ Program, ensuring that he gets extra time and distraction-free accommodation (a small
room instead of a crowded lecture hall)
for test taking.
Taylor received a big boost on campus when psychology professor Stephen Hinshaw added his book as a text for one of his courses. And he’s quite happy to share his very personal odyssey — fire-starting episodes and all. “If there is any awkwardness about sharing my stories,” he says, “it’s overcome by
my desire to help.”