Perseverance and support key to graduate’s success
- Kaitlynn Nordal | July 22, 2019
From a young age, parents and teachers of Jaden Yee-Pelletier noticed there might be something different about him. Jaden was in the second grade when his teachers first started noticing he was having trouble focusing in class.
After bringing it up with his parents, they decided to consult his pediatrician about what would be the best thing to do for their son.
When the results of his tests came back, it was revealed that Jaden has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) just like his father Jada Yee.
Jaden graduated from Michael A. Riffel High School this June, but it was not always an easy school experience.
“I was always a step behind. It always took me a little longer to finish assignments than other people,” Jaden said.
It was not until high school that Jaden got the help he needed.
“Throughout elementary, I wasn’t getting the help I needed so I was falling behind,” Jaden said. “I think grade seven was the worst for me and that’s when I realized I really needed the help, even the teachers said I needed help.”
When Jaden applied to go to Michael A. Riffel High School, his application was held back because of his ADHD.
“They felt that they didn’t want him to go to Riffel, they wanted him to go to an advance program, or even special education... but I knew that wasn’t Jaden. So, getting into a fight with the elementary school and Regina Catholic School Division was challenging. It took for me and my wife to do our own research and to get our own team involved talking to experts and people who deal with this...we faught the system to put Jaden into a regular high school,” said father, Jada.
For Jaden, the hardest part of school was staying focused even if it was a class, he was interested in.
“For me whenever I try to I just can’t. I just zone out and I don’t even know it,” Jaden said.
Jaden pushed through by getting help from his teachers and taking tutorial classes every semester. His science teacher allowed him to take certain assignments home to study them for certain exams. This made it easier for him to concentrate and pass his classes. Talking to the school guidance counselor was also helpful for Jaden.
“I remember back in grade 9, it was really hard to understand. So, I would talk to my guidance counselor a lot to see what she could offer me for help. She was the one who recommended all the tutorial stuff I did,” Jaden said.
Jada is happy they did not immediately give up and fought for their son.
“He passed every single class and he showed them that no matter what kind of obstacles you put in front of him he’s going to overcome them,” said Jada.
In the fall, Jaden will be studying film directing and video editing in the Media Arts and Performance faulty in the University of Regina.
Although Jaden is confident he will do well, the family has been in touch with those at the university who help students with learning disabilities to set a plan for him.