Ruby
Today I had a neuropsychological test. My dad got me an appointment because when my mom, sister, and my brother took it in the past, they were all diagnosed with ADHD. I read about the test the night before and learned that it will tell me my IQ, my learning style, and whether I have some form of ADHD, among other things. The one I was most interested in was my IQ.
“Take a seat,” said the woman doing the test. The name given to us on the paperwork said “Dr. Shay.” Dr. Shay ushered us to two plastic blue chairs, and my dad and I sat down. She asked us both questions about me: how my grades are, how I am with social interactions, how short my attention span is, whether I am neat, whether my room stays clean, how many friends I have, how camp is good for me. She took notes on a clipboard with the same pattern as our old couch on it.
After an hour of interviewing, my dad left, and Dr. Shay pulled out a grayish folding table.
“We only use the best tables here at the hospital,” she said. “Sam’s Club.”
I sat across from her and she smiled, trying to make small talk. I was fidgeting a lot. I’m pretty sure she noticed how hard I was trying to pay attention to her.
Four blocks were set in front of me with different colors and patterns on each side. She gave me a picture and told me to arrange the blocks to match it. I did, and she gave me a new one, and this went on until I completed the last one in the book. She clicked a stopwatch with a manicured nail.
“I’ve never seen anyone solve that last one before,” she said. She smiled, and I felt a bit uneasy. I had been hoping my results would be 100% average for some reason. It’s not that I want to be boring, but the human mind is a complicated and scary thing. It controls you, and any reassurance that mine is functioning normally is comforting.
Lots of 3D puzzles, drawing, and filling out questionnaires later, I was mentally exhausted.
The test was over very quickly. It took me a bit over three hours, which is somewhat short for a neuropsych. I truly have no idea if it was me or the test format or Dr. Shay that made it go so fast.
I’m very curious about the results. I’ll get them later this week. I’m nervous and excited at the same time—I know that an IQ score really doesn’t mean anything, but I think I’ll still feel bad if it turns out I have a low one. And what if I don’t have ADHD? Does that mean I’m just …weird? On the other hand, this is an interesting subject, and I am really excited to know how it applies to me. I’m overthinking it. The results haven’t even come in yet. ♦
Katherine, the first few weeks of college were sucky and overwhelming for me. it seemed like everyone was making friends and having an awesome time while i had a few awkward acquaintances and roommates who loved trash tv a little to genuinely. i really encourage you to embrace the situation, though. It sounds sleezy and guidance counselor-y, but in my experience, deciding things suck and choosing to quit or leave before you give them a full chance is not the best approach.. because then you pin all your hopes on the next thing being awesome. And usually crazy new and different things aren’t that awesome in the beginning. If i could talk to every nervous incoming freshman, I would tell them to talk to everyone, even the people that you think you won’t like. Everyone, regardless of how calm and at ease they look, is scared and nervous and in desperate need of friends. If you take the initiative and approach people, you will get friends. even if they aren’t the type of people you would have thought. Freshman year is the best time for making tons of friends, which will subsequently whittle down into your core group. I’m confident you’ll have a better time soon! (unless you are having an awesome time and just felt a bit bleh when you wrote this.) I hope this isn’t to lecture-y and stuff, but I want you to have a brilliant time. And I guarantee you can if you get out there and show people how cool you are. College just got progressively better for me, until I was one of THOSE people nearly in tears when I graduated this may. carpe diem! And good luck!
Log in to replygood god, so many errors on too!
Log in to replyDylan, can you please write a novel about your life so far, it seriously sounds like a dream.. :’) and your mentor-shop lady bond reminded me of pretty in pink
witches-rave.tumblr.com
Log in to replyDYLAN. YES. Write and publish your life story:)
Log in to replyRuby, don’t worry! You’ll still be the same person after the test.
Log in to replyRuby, what I want to know is why you were taking the test? That seems more interesting then the test itself. Oh and I forgot to tell you as a theater person and a Harry Potter fan it’s totally awsome and I am totally jealous that you got to be Malfoy
Log in to replyI move into my dorm room tomorrow.
Log in to replyI’m so afraid.
Good luck Katherine! Sending Rookie love your way!
My brother moved in to college today. I still cant believe I wont see him until thanksgiving! I keep expecting him to come downstairs and start playing video games with my other siblings and I…
Log in to replyGreetings and salutations to YOU, Caitlin (and Christian Slater…is he a part of our staff now? FINGS CROSSED)
Log in to replyHello- yes, we come as a package!
Log in to replyhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Caitliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin
Log in to replyHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Log in to replyhey sup ;)
Log in to replyWAIT DYLAN I LOVE THE PRETTY PARLOR! I lived in Seattle for a few years and it was one of my favorite spots in the city. I also know that soccer field, the one with the fence in Capitol Hill? And that record store. I felt like you sort of described my thoughts while driving through Seattle when I went back once.
(PS. I’m hoping it was only an accident that Cupcake Royale was not included in this?)
http://www.guiltfreedonut.com
Log in to replyFuck me I went there today they sell red velvet ice cream now ugh dammit it’s good
Log in to replyDYLAN THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL I DIED FROM THE PERFECTNESS OF THAT AHH
Log in to replyHey, Ruby. I had to do that too, just a few months ago, and it had to do with a diagnosis too. I did them all pretty quick which left them in amazement, kinda. They didn’t tell me my IQ though, just that I was ‘really smart and above average’ blahh. You’ll be okay, you’re a smart one.
Log in to replyhi Caitlinnnn!
Log in to replyDylan- I’m 20, and I just moved to Seattle last fall to go to school. I go to Cornish, so Capitol Hill is my neighborhood now. I just got my first apartment up on the hill last weekend. :) I’ve been feeling a lot of what you’ve been talking about in regards to my own hometown- which is nothing like Seattle, but incredibly beautiful in a different way. Finishing being a teenager is scary and exciting and I’m barely figuring it out. I wish you so much luck on your new LA adventure, and reading this just made me so excited to keep exploring and discovering all the things you love so much.
Log in to replyI think i already love you, Caitlin!=)
Log in to replyawwww
Log in to replythat’s fantastic naomi, congratulations! when i got my a level results four years ago (!!!) the school asked a few of us to come in really really early so the paper could take photos of us. somewhere on the evening standard website is immortalised a very fake hug between me, my friend, and another girl. weirdly though, after all the build up, getting those final grades felt a little flat. i felt the same getting my degree results in june. a relief, but not really a surprised. then the other day i was cleaning my teeth and suddenly felt a huge burst of elation – i got through a truly miserable university experience with an actual degree. wahoo!
Log in to reply(and now i never ever have to go back!!)
DYLAN your post is so beautiful. i visited seattle last summer and fell in love and this makes me want to go back so badly! thanks for writing this!
Log in to replyCaitlin your tumblr is EVERYTHING!
That is all. c:
Log in to replyThe Pretty Parlor is the BEST. Definitely hitting it up when I go down to Seattle for Bumbershoot!
Log in to replyNaomi, your entries are probably my favorites, partly because of your lovely writing style, and partly because over the past year my social anxiety has hit a difficult high, and it kind of helps to hear about someone who has similar feelings. School starts this Monday for me, and even though I wish I didn’t have to go back, I’m not so scared anymore.
Log in to replydyl pickle, this was beautiful. i think it is necessary to let go of seattle angst and to just love the city and have as much fun as you can. we’ve talked about this before, but growing up in this city and in the circles we’ve grown up in makes you super jaded but now that we are on the other side of all of it, we can see how silly the whole thing was. both good silly and bad silly. i completely understand the love/hate relationship with Seattle. maybe we will just learn to love it even more as we grow older and become different people. you’ve done a lot in the first 19 years of life. happy to be celebrating this next chapter with you. see ya tonight! xx
p.s. you forgot your annual after Christmas party, rancho bravo, the holy mountain, the 11 bus, denny blaine, house shows, etc etc etc :P
Log in to replyDylan – My boyfriend turns 20 on the 24th too! (So, in like, half an hour) Being old is so scary.
Log in to replypretty parlor! vincent!
Log in to replyI love in the description for the post “do-do-do-DOOO”. Am I the only on who may or may not have sung it out loud, complete with air trumpet playing.
Log in to replyNo? just me? ok.
Hi Ruby! I’m curious as to what type of Neuropsychological test you took.
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