Feb 10
Join Tracy in Episode #67 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women as she welcomes her guest, Vera Bruursema. Like many of us with ADHD, Vera has crafted a diverse career path from volunteer firefighter/EMT, soccer coach, Trader Joe’s Assistant Manager and bookkeeper. While earning her MBA she worked as staff accountant for many different companies but still struggled to find her place. It all finally came together when Vera decided to seek help for her ADHD and open her own practice as owner and founder of Verified Accounting. Tracy wanted to talk to Vera because many believe that the ADHD brain is incapable of a career in accounting or finance. In fact, Vera is going to tell us how she took her nonlinear brain and created a really interesting niche for herself in accounting.
Vera shares with us: The circumstances around her ADHD diagnosis in sixth grade, her very difficult teen years, the ADHD program in Wyoming that changed her life, how she finally learned executive function skills, how she ended up in bookkeeping and ultimately accounting The “social handbook” that she finally read that explained so much of her struggles with other people and helped her to build her confidence back up, the THING she started to embrace that turned her life around rapidly, why accounting plays into one of her biggest strengths. Hint: it’s problem-solving, how her dog Atlas gives her the structure she needs to succeed.
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"My tendency to disrupt a class probably went above and beyond. I spent a lot of time in in school suspension."
- Vera Bruursema
"I plan. And what it means is that every day, there's some sort of schedule, and one of the most helpful things that I've ever done in that regard, is get a dog."
- Vera Bruursema
"If I stay busy, and I stay structured life is good."
- Vera Bruursema
- Vera was diagnosed with ADHD in sixth grade after a six-hour test revealed her learning style and her parents wanted to customize her classes.
- Vera struggled in school due to a teacher's abusive behavior and lack of respect, leading to social struggles and in-school suspensions.
- Vera attended a wilderness program called Soar in Wyoming for kids with ADHD, where she learned valuable life skills and formed close friendships with her counselors and fellow participants.
[16:18 - 32:03] Career Changes, Mental Health, and Personal Growth
- Vera and her groupmates learned teamwork and executive functioning skills through a structured program for children with ADHD, where they made decisions and had to give approvals for actions and insults.
- Vera discusses her experience at a summer camp for troubled youth, where she developed confidence and respect for her counselors.
- Vera experienced job insecurity and struggled to find a good fit, but with the help of a therapist and support from friends, she was able to identify the root of the issue and make positive changes.
[32:03 - 43:34] ADHD Workarounds and Productivity
- Vera enjoys working in a CPA firm during tax season due to the variety of clients and tasks.
- Vera shares her ADHD workflow, which includes creating a daily schedule with structure and routine, as well as practicing mindfulness and living in the moment.
- Vera shares her experience with structure and mindfulness, and how her dog helps her stay organized.
