Born with ADD and Asperger syndrome, I struggled greatly with learning at school and interacting socially with others. After high school I more or less gave up, as I believed I was not intelligent enough to succeed in life. I didn’t believe I was intelligent enough for college, and I was depressed, so I saw military combat as a way to vent my aggression. I was depressed to the point where death no longer seemed a burden, and I was not afraid of dying in combat as it meant being free from depression. I never even thought of what I would do after the military, but I imagined that life would only go downhill from there.
Then I met Dr. David “Beba” Witkowski. He helped bring balance and clarity into my life, and showed me that I am capable and intelligent enough to achieve success in life. Through the work we did, I learned how to properly learn, which is what I lacked during high school. I realized that I can excel in an academic setting, and I have decided to choose a career path in the medical field. Not only will this allow me to use my knowledge for the sake of helping others, but it will also grant me a much better and more stable future. I hope to someday have a family of my own, which is something I never wanted prior.
Last semester I took five classes, and received an A in each one. I joined an international honors society, and I will soon be volunteering at UC San Diego Health. These achievements are a testament to the work we did.
Dr. David, I want to truly thank you for all you have done for me. Prior to meeting you I was wasting away at home, angry and depressed. And now I am on my way to hopefully becoming a medical doctor. Without your help I wouldn’t be moving forward at all. Your work didn’t simply teach me how to learn, it taught me how to live. Working with you is one of the best experiences of my life, and I cannot ever thank you enough.
Sincerely,
Daniel Schmidt