Why ADHD Built the Career I Was Meant For
A look at how ADHD shaped my path as a creative professional and sparked the birth of FifthHouse.
I Didn’t Grow Up Knowing Design Was A Career.
I grew up in a working-class, military family where the message was always clear: go to college. But once I got there, I had no clue what I wanted to study.
That changed when I reconnected with a high school friend who told me they were majoring in graphic design. I had never heard of it before. They described it as “art and computers,” and I was instantly intrigued.
At the time, I was already spending hours in Photoshop and endlessly tweaking my MySpace layouts with new CSS and HTML tricks. Suddenly, design felt like the place where all my interests converged. I declared my major, graduated, and stepped into a creative career.
ADHD Isn’t Something I Had To Outgrow.
Looking back, I’m not sure why I ever tried to hide it. When I finally got the nerve to tell people I had ADHD, no one was surprised (much to my surprise!). The signs had always been there. Even before I found design.
For years, I thought I needed to hide it. Mask it. Fix it.
What I eventually learned is that ADHD isn’t a flaw. It’s a strength. And for me, that strength shows up in motion.
I thrive in variety.
I move fast.
I connect dots quickly.
I see patterns others miss.
I solve problems before most people even know they exist.
That’s not distraction. That’s design thinking in overdrive.
But Not Every Role Saw It That Way.
Most roles wanted me to stay in my lane. Execute. Design, not lead.
But design school trained me to think, not just make things look good. I wanted them to work better. I wanted to lead projects, talk to clients, and bring strategy into the process.
I wasn’t trying to fit into someone else's box. I had enough experience to build my own.
That’s How FifthHouse Was Born.
A creative studio where strategy meets design.
Where clarity, curiosity, and cultural edge guide the process.
Where work is as smart as it is memorable.
I didn’t leave traditional roles because I couldn't keep up. I left because I was ready to lead. I had the instincts, experience, and creative vision to do it on my terms.
ADHD Didn’t Limit My Career…It Designed It
It took grit to get here. Honing how I’m wired didn’t just make me a better creative.
It helped me show up more authentically and do my best work.
FifthHouse exists because of ADHD, not in spite of it.
If your business is ready for creative direction that blends strategy with soul, you’re in the right place.
