Jean Arlette Legrand '20 Recruiting Profile

When I was little, at 6 years old, my parent sent me to various doctors, because my teachers noticed something was different. I couldn’t stay put in one place, teachers had difficulty getting my attention and focus in class. As a result, I was sent to the principal’s office, and the principal knew how to work with me and how to calm me down. I remember she used to walk me around the school to see the other classrooms and talk to me. This resulted in me really connecting with my school. The principal talked to my parents and told them to take me to doctors because she had seen cases like me, before in school.

Afterwards, my parents wanted me to see Dr. Jose Bauermeister (Psychiatrist) and I was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)which meant I had difficulty focusing and controlling impulses; ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder): I had a tendency of defiant behavior toward adults or authority figures; OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), I had uncontrollable, recurring thoughts and behavior; and Semantic Pragmatic Disorder, difficulty with the development of communication. I also visited Dr. Maria Margarida (Neuropsychologist) who confirmed all my diagnoses and established the necessary treatments. Additionally, I went to see Dr. Ohel Soto Raices (Psychiatrist) to evaluate my neural-emotional progress because the treatments affected my emotional health and he modified my existing treatments by assigning a new set of treatments. I have been taking pills since first grade, but I never could swallow them. In effect, my treatment was a bit complicated: pills had to be broken in halves, and inside the were like little balls, so I would’ve taken that in a spoon with water. The pills were to calm me down, help me focus and help my hyperactivity to be in control.

 However, at nine years old I discovered the best treatment possible. I started playing Tennis. My parents thought that it might help me with my disorders especially ADHD because as a Tennis player you have to maintain your focus with keeping score and strategy. When I was twelve, I started competing with my school’s team and in the Puerto Rican Regional Circuit. Then, I realized that maybe I could also succeed in other sports. In Eighth grade, I started playing Softball. Softball taught me how to really be less self-involved (to not be always thinking about my diagnoses), how to work as team and helped me with my social skills. I was doing better each day. So much so, that by the time I was thirteen, my Psychiatrist said I could make the most important decision: either stopping medication or continue with it. I was ready to decide, and I decided to stop taking my medication because I felt I was able to control my diagnoses with sports. My parents supported my decision, but I still had to visit my Psychiatrist every three months to see my progress without medication. At first it was hard to stay focused, but I was able to do it with my teachers and friends’ support. Right now, I have joined the school’s Table Tennis and the Volleyball team. Sports have helped me to focus, and to problem-solve and became more assertive. I have learned to manage my diagnoses, and have become more involved with my school community.