The most important thing you can do to help yourself do well in school isn’t a fancy trick, a brand of organizer or a schedule. It’s this: Know Yourself. Think about it. Everyone is different. Everyone has things that are easy for them or that they’re good at, and everyone has things that are hard and don’t come as naturally. So no one thing is going to be right for everyone.

Before you get ready to succeed in school, you need to know yourself. Make a list of the things you’re great at. Make another list of what’s hard for you. Next to each hard thing, write something that you’ve tried that has worked to make that thing better. Knowing yourself will help others help you.

If you have ADHD, you may be entitled to special accommodations or help at school. This is a decision that your parents or guardians make together with the teachers and other staff at school. If you need something special to help you succeed, you might have one of two plans: an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a Section 504 Plan.

Both of these plans are for students who have some kind of disability – from trouble learning to read to being in a wheelchair to being allergic to peanuts. An IEP is for kids whose disability means they need things to be taught to them in certain ways to help them be successful. A 504 is for kids who can do just fine being taught the same way as everyone else, they just need some small things to make it happen.

If you have ADHD, you might have one of these plans or you might not. If you do, it says exactly what the school, your parents, and you need to do to help you be successful. It’s important that you know what’s in your plan if you have one, so go ahead and ask your parents or guardians if you do, and if so what it says. That way, you’ll know what’s supposed to happen for you at school, and be able to ask and remind people if it isn’t happening.

Once you know if you have a formal plan, you’re ready to start telling your teachers and other adults what you need. Let’s say, for example, that one of the things that’s really hard for you is copying things off of the board at school. You know that, but your teachers might not. One thing that might help you is if you could get a copy of your teacher’s notes, either before class or after she’s done using them.

Now comes the hard part. You have to ask. To ask, you need to be confident and assertive, but not aggressive. That means you have to be clear about what you want and why you want it, but polite and not angry. That can be hard, particularly if you’re nervous.

So here’s a tip: Practice in front of the mirror. First, figure out what you think you should say. In this example, it might be, “Hi, I’m Chris and I’m in your 2^nd hour class. I have ADHD, and it’s hard for me to copy things off the board. I would like to get a copy of your notes for lectures so I can study from them, please. I would really appreciate it.” See how that’s direct and to the point, but still respectful? Now, go stand in front of the mirror and say it to yourself. You might feel silly at first, but try it. Then try it again. Then try it again. Keep practicing until you can remember what you want to say, and you can say it confidently. Now you’re ready to go talk to your teacher!

This example might not be something you need, but the method is the same. Figure out what you need, figure out what to say so you’re assertive but not aggressive, and practice in front of the mirror.

Part of advocating for yourself is being willing to ask for help and ask questions when you don’t understand things. If your attention wanders in class, or an explanation goes too fast for you, you need to ask for help. That might be hard for you, but it’s really important.

It’s also important that you ask good questions. What that means is asking in a way that the person you’re asking knows what it is you need. A good question might be, “I understood what you did in steps one and two, but I have no idea how you got your answer in step three.” See how the teacher can tell just what to explain?

Here’s an example of a bad question: “Huh? I don’t get it.” That doesn’t give the teacher much to go on at all. What don’t you get? Where did you get lost? Are there any parts you did understand? Where do you want the teacher to start? If you really are completely lost and don’t understand anything of what she said, just say so, “I’m sorry, but I’m really lost. I feel like I don’t understand anything you just said.” Then your teacher knows that you really are completely confused.

What are the things you need to do every morning when you get up? It’s probably pretty much the same thing every day. Get in the habit of doing it the same way at the same time every day, too. If it helps you, write it down in a list. If you always do the same thing in the same order, you’re less likely to forget something important.

The same thing goes for being at school. Every class has a routine. Once you figure out what you have to do every day (e.g. come in, sit down, take out your homework, get out your notebook and a pencil, wait for the class to start) you can make a list – in your head or on paper – for each class, and do it the same way every day. Do the same thing for getting your homework done, getting ready for bed, and anything else that is a regular part of your day.

DO make sure you take your medication every day, as prescribed, if you have any. That goes for all your meds, not just ones for ADHD. Make them part of your routines!

DO find a method that works for you to keep track of your assignments. Some kids like planner calendars. Others keep a running to-do-list. Some kids have a tiny voice recorder to record things.

DO have a place for everything, and try really hard to keep things in their place. This works especially well for homework. If it comes home in the same folder every day, you do it and put it back in that same folder and take it to school, it won’t get lost.

DO talk to trusted adults about how things are going. No one wants you to fail, and you don’t want to either. If you’re having trouble, tell someone. Don’t try to hide it.

DON’T decide you’re smarter than your doctor. If you don’t like your medication or don’t think you need it, be assertive but not aggressive about talking to your doctor. Don’t start, stop or change your medication without your doctor’s permission.

DON’T substitute alcohol or drugs for your medication, or try to deal with your attention issues with illegal substances. Not only might you get in trouble, it won’t work in the long run.

DON’T think you’re the only one who has “issues.” Everyone has something. Yours is ADHD. Someone else’s is depression or being tone deaf or having trouble reading maps. It’s no big deal, everyone just has to work around it.

DON’T forget the many strengths and talents you have! If you get down on yourself, make one more list – a list of things that are great about you – and post it in your locker so you see it every day.