Dear Parents, Before You Consider Ritalin, Read This Personal Story

Yogev Buhbut shares his painful childhood experience as a 'delayed child', who despite finishing 12 years of school, didn't earn a diploma, while teachers kept telling him he'd never amount to anything. 

For years, he wanted to write this piece, and now he dedicates it to parents whose children struggle within the educational system. "Every time the teacher asked us to open the books, I didn't know what to do with them," he recalls. "Everyone else followed along and understood, but not me. The teacher knew I was a 'delayed child' who hadn't grasped everything yet, so whenever she wanted to reinforce her point, she simply asked me to read aloud in front of the class."

But as a 'delayed child', I just felt embarrassed and didn't know how to read."

When the year ended and he moved up to second grade, the teachers decided to hold him back a year to catch up. He managed to close the gaps, but for years, anger towards the education system lingered, as well as the abandonment he felt from the teachers. 

Yes, he eventually finished 12 years of school—but with the teachers' lack of belief in him constantly being communicated—it left him without a diploma, and with no confidence in his ability to succeed in life, even if he wanted to. "Years passed, I joined the army, became a Distinguished Soldier recognized by the President—one of only 120—and started a career in customer service. For 16 years, I've been managing hundreds of employees, and two years ago, I even began pursuing a bachelor's degree."

Now, for two years, he's been maintaining an 87.5 average in his degree studies, and for parents of energetic children considering Ritalin, he has just one message: "Before the teacher advises you to send your child for evaluation, give them Ritalin, add an extra tutoring session, hold them back a grade, invest in private lessons, or switch schools—talk to your child and ask what they're experiencing. Maybe they're delayed like I was and will catch up in their own time, and that's okay. The main thing is to have a happy child. Everything else will come in their own time," he concludes.