This time, we chat with Dr. Caitlin O’Brien, a graduate who recently completed her doctoral degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Connecticut and is now working in the engineering industry.
Caitlin shares pivotal moments in her life, including her diagnosis with ADHD as a senior in high school, challenges and moments of success in her academics, and lessons that contributed to her personal growth. Insightful and self-aware, Caitlin explains how she uses cognitive behavioral strategies to reframe intense emotions and challenge negative internal narratives. Reflections on her educational experiences contrast moments of intense frustration and boredom with moments of creative engagement that led to a strong interest in engineering research. At times, the conversation suggests flaws in an education system that often fails to recognize and cultivate the divergent thinking abilities of students with ADHD.
This is the Square Pegs podcast, a series of discussions about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the UConn School of Engineering. In each episode, we talk to current and former neurodiverse graduate students from across the Academy.
Have something to say or ask? Reach us at hello@squarepegspodcast.com.
Timestamps:
0:01:03 – Guest intro: Dr. Caitlin O’Brien, recent graduate of the University of Connecticut, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
0:04:58 – Redefining ADHD as an asset and deploying creativity in early education
0:07:23 – Middle school: more rigidity and having to find your own creative outlines in STEM classes
0:08:25 – Disconnecting from learning history as a series of facts rather than the story of a people
0:18:35 – High school: getting “out of control” and starting to come to terms with ADHD
0:24:17 – Finding engineering in early undergrad, and learning to balance coursework demands
0:30:26 – Implementing a paradigm shift in understanding neurodiversity to leveraging peoples’ individual strengths rather than demanding we be Jacks-of-all-trades
0:41:52 – Overcoming difficulties with focusing
0:53:57 – Settling into graduate school and its immense creative freedom
0:58:55 – Advice on the advisor/advisee relationship
1:01:20 – Caitlin’s writing process and manufacturing the conditions to produce quality work quickly
1:07:35 – Gaining the confidence to seek help when you don’t know what to do
1:17:34 – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and managing the day-to-day
1:23:26 – Final thoughts and advice to past Caitlin
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