My Flair (2022), from Rooty Hill High School, is a short film included in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. The piece touches on themes of ADHD, cognitive processing disability and teenage mental health, offering a fresh perspective on individuality and feeling a bit odd. Its voice is youthful and curious, and it sits comfortably within a programme that celebrates the abilities and experiences of people with disability. Presented by a high school filmmaking body, My Flair amplifies young perspectives and invites audiences to listen and reflect. Expect a candid, humane contribution that adds warmth and honesty to the festival lineup.
Stop moving, you're shaking the table. Why aren't you doing the work? Huh? Why are you not listening to me? Trust me, I am. But when you have ADHD, Attention Deficit Aperactivity Disorder and ODD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, people treat you differently. I feel isolated, alone and misunderstood. Usually, I'm so forgetful, so I try my best not to forget anything. Every morning after breakfast, I make sure to take my medicine, try to check if I have all that I need and head to school. During classes, I'm out of focus for a while. I have so many competing thoughts fighting for attention and action in my brain that my speeding mind freezes my body because I don't know where or how to begin. My mind is an endless working machine. When my brain goes into overdrive, I appear to have a blank stare on my face like a deer in headlights. I need to know what I'm doing, where I'm doing it and who is around while I do it. Once it clicks, I piece together the rest like a large jigsaw puzzle with so many different looking shapes. When I sit among others during class or on break, sometimes my body is there, but my mind is elsewhere. I bounce my leg and fidget with toys. I don't want to be still. How can I explain the discomfort of having my senses in constant overdrive? As I focus, new ideas come up like shooting stars bursting through my mind. Sometimes it's hard to find a quiet space because my mind is so noisy and busy all the time. I forget things. I have a million thoughts a minute. I bounce my leg, I fidget with toys. I can read words that come alive and move off the page. I get anxious. I try to figure things out. I get argumentative and verbally aggressive, but I won't let this stop me. I'm energetic, compassionate and I'm a protector. I dim the lights and dance to the beat, transforming my energy and feeding it into my passions. I like food and never say no to a good fried chicken. Most importantly, I try my best to be good to myself. When I feel upset or anxious, I tend to distance myself from the place or people that make me feel that way. I like a private space where I could find comfort in things that hold precious memories and feelings for me. Every day, I learn more about myself, who I am and who I become. ADHD and ODD isn't just a disability. They're my super power. When I do something I enjoy, everything feels more clear. I can ace the team as a soccer goalie or be unbeatable at tips. I can engage in class discussions and make an opponent taste a crushing defeat in a debate. I may see the world differently and comprehend things differently, but it makes me who I am as a person and it will continue to shape who I am. They say I'm different, but that's what makes me special. Work with it, not against it. It's my flair.
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My Flair by Rooty Hill High School (2022)
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My Flair
by Rooty Hill High School - SCHOOL DOCUMENTARIES
