{"id":1194,"date":"2024-06-20T07:16:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T11:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c8ace14355.nxcli.io\/?p=1194"},"modified":"2025-10-27T09:45:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T13:45:31","slug":"hra-j-s-trip-gilmore-iii-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hra.org\/hra-j-s-trip-gilmore-iii-16\/","title":{"rendered":"J.S. “Trip” Gilmore III ’16: Learning to Manage ADHD and Help Others Do the Same"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"J.S.What\u2019s it like having a secret superpower that\u2019s invisible, misunderstood, and sometimes way too powerful?<\/div>\n
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When many people hear that someone has Attention Deficit Disorder\/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADD\/ADHD, there\u2019s an overwhelming stigma that paints a picture of what it\u2019s supposed to look like in a person.<\/p>\n

The stereotype is an overly talkative child who is lazy because they can\u2019t do their work. J. S. \u201cTrip\u201d Gilmore III ’16 is an advocate for those who struggle with the condition, especially the approximately 5% of adults who have ADHD, which represents over 11,000,000 people in the US. He\u2019s learned and honed in on some mental tools to help use the disorder to one\u2019s advantage.<\/p>\n

First, what is ADD\/ADHD? According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, it\u2019s a highly genetic, brain-based syndrome that has to do with the regulation of a particular set of brain functions and related behaviors.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more than just one type of ADHD, but the most recognizable symptoms are lack of attention to details, an inability to follow or remember instructions, getting easily distracted, fidgeting, and\/or talking too much. More than 1 in 10 children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD, many of whom will have symptoms that persist into adulthood.<\/p>\n

As someone who was one of the 6.4 million kids aged 4-17 with ADHD, Trip had to learn how to manage being overwhelmed and overstimulated, especially in new environments such as private school. Often people with ADHD will have an overabundance of ideas they are eager to explore, but have a hard time organizing their thoughts to get directly to the finish line.<\/p>\n

Trip, who studied Physics and Business Economics at Hampden Sydney College and is currently a Data Analyst at Virginia Green, has always loved learning about how things work. His most recent project has been developing their new dashboard system and helping the company become more efficient with data usage. His desire to work with dashboards and other data analytics systems gives him the energy to directly focus on those projects. \u201cHyperfocus,\u201d when used to one\u2019s advantage, can arguably be one of the best aspects of ADHD. Sometimes one becomes so fascinated by a subject\/task that full focus is directed entirely on it. For many to \u201cactivate\u201d this hyperfocus, they must be interested in the topic. One technique Trip uses for learning is to find ways to make it interesting to him. If the subject is not particularly stimulating, he will think about the results of learning the subject. That often helps him stay motivated and focused.<\/p>\n

One of Trip\u2019s best pieces of advice is to start using your smartphone smarter. When your brain is trying to focus on juggling tasks, you forget that chore you\u2019ve been meaning to do, that doctor’s appointment, or even what day you\u2019re hanging out with your friends. To combat that, use your phone\u2019s calendar to schedule and categorize all events ahead of time so it will remember for you. Routines and structure are also very helpful. One of Trip\u2019s responsibilities at work is to build data collection sheets every two weeks. He sets a calendar reminder to do this every other Friday so that it helps keep tasks organized. This can be used for other tasks at home as well, like laundry, dishes, and grocery shopping.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, our brains tend to wander on social media, playing games or browsing the internet. By checking the \u201cScreen Time\u201d section in your phone\u2019s settings, you can learn exactly what your habits are. To prevent extraneous time on distractions, the downtime function will limit how long you can use an app during the day. If that fails, Trip says biting the bullet works as well. He deleted the social media short video app, TikTok<\/em>, for this very reason, as he noticed himself becoming absorbed in it because the videos are the perfect length to satisfy his brain.<\/p>\n

Unstructured projects tend to be difficult for people with ADHD. While at HRA, he learned to be bold, to take more risks and never be afraid to try something new. So, it\u2019s no wonder why Trip wants to be a pathfinder and discover methods to make an unstructured project easier and more productive. Having ADHD can make life a bit frustrating, but Trip likes to view it as a challenge. Using these tools, he says his work performance has accelerated, his confidence has grown, and his lifestyle has improved.<\/p>\n

Going forward, Trip plans to lead a team of data professionals in the coming years, wants to keep on learning and bettering himself. He hopes to help more people who have ADD\/ADHD learn how to use it to their advantage and would love to connect via email, jsgilmore3@gmail.com<\/a>, with anyone in the HRA community who’s also interested, especially alumni.<\/p>\n

HRA: Supporting Every Student<\/h3>\n

At Hampton Roads Academy (HRA)<\/a> in Newport News, VA, the school celebrates the individuality of each student and is committed to creating a nurturing environment tailored to their needs. By emphasizing personalized attention, HRA ensures students receive the academic support, emotional guidance, and extracurricular opportunities essential for success. This approach is built on a foundation of respect and care that influences all interactions and initiatives.<\/p>\n

HRA is dedicated to making its quality education accessible to all families. Through customized tuition assistance programs, HRA works to eliminate financial barriers, ensuring that every student can access the education they deserve. HRA proudly offers various resources and support to meet the diverse needs of its community with compassion and commitment.<\/p>\n

HRA’s Commitment to Excellence
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At HRA<\/a>, education extends beyond the classroom. We are devoted to developing the whole student through a rigorous academic program. HRA’s curriculum highlights honor, integrity, and personal growth, ensuring that each student\u2019s unique strengths are acknowledged in a supportive environment.<\/p>\n

With small class sizes and personalized support, HRA’s dedicated faculty is committed to helping every student excel. HRA fosters a healthy and encouraging atmosphere where students thrive physically, emotionally, and academically, empowering them to explore a variety of academic and extracurricular pursuits, from sports to the arts.<\/p>\n

Why Choose HRA?<\/h3>\n

As the only independent school on the Peninsula serving Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, HRA provides a unique educational experience. Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, HRA adheres to the highest standards of academic excellence.<\/p>\n

Beyond academics, HRA offers numerous opportunities to enhance student development. HRA’s athletic programs encourage teamwork, physical fitness, and sportsmanship, while our vibrant Arts program enables students to express their creativity in visual and performing arts. The REACH (Real-world Experience and Academic Choices) Initiative links academic learning to real-world applications, fostering personal growth, community service, and shared values.<\/p>\n

Schedule Your Tour of HRA in Newport News, VA, Today!<\/h3>\n

At HRA<\/a>, students receive an exceptional education focused on character development and future success. HRA nurtures critical thinking, effective communication, teamwork, and a spirit of discovery, shaping innovative and compassionate leaders for an evolving world. Serving families in Newport News, Poquoson, Hampton, and Williamsburg, VA, we invite you to schedule a campus tour<\/a> to see how our supportive environment can help your child thrive and reach their full potential.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,50,63,15],"tags":[52,53,98,51],"class_list":["post-1194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-portrait-of-a-graduate","category-home","category-blog","category-alumni","tag-newport-news","tag-va","tag-hra","tag-hampton-roads-academy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1194"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8370,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1194\/revisions\/8370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hra.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}