Fall Graduation 2020: Celebrating a Bachelor Degree After Learning Difficulties Diagnosed

Even though Maarukh Abbas is now in her first year of the Law and Legal Studies master’s program at Carleton University, there was a time when she wasn’t even sure she would earn her bachelor’s degree.

“High school does not prepare you for university,” she says, a touch ruefully.

During the first two years of her undergraduate studies at Carleton, Abbas struggled, earning low marks despite dedicated studying. Demoralized, but determined to figure out what was holding her back, she went to Carleton’s Health and Counselling Services for advice.

The answer? She had previously undiagnosed learning disabilities—specifically, attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

As well as prescribing medication to help her focus, Health and Counselling Services connected Abbas to the university’s Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities. With those supports in place, Abbas began to thrive at Carleton. Soon, she was earning B’s and A’s. In her final undergrad semester, she was a straight-A student.

“When I look at my transcript, I can see the upward climb,” she says. “It still shocks me.”

Read full story in Carleton Newsroom…