MSI Press Blog

  When Shane was in seventh grade, age 11, and bored, he learned that Doah's elementary school has received a gift of Apple IIc computers. Computers were very new at the time, and none of the faculty knew how to use them. The school put out a call for a volunteer parent to help. No parents were forthcoming; they did not know much about computers. Shane did. His dad Donny had been using computers since the day they first came out, and he taught Shane. Shane had an instinct for such things and quickly became proficient and even intuitive about new programs. So, he asked the principal for time off to be the volunteer at Doah's school. He was faithful to the schedule, and the school librarian, whose library housed the computer, took a shine to Shane and whenever some special program was taking place at school, she made sure he got to attend it.  That was Shane's first "job." Unpaid, of course,  He had another "job" the same year. On Thursdays he came into St...

  PTSD Awareness Month matters because trauma is far more common—and far more misunderstood—than most people realize. Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by what happens inside a person when their nervous system is overwhelmed beyond its ability to cope. It is a physiological injury, not a character flaw. And recovery is not about “getting over it,” but about helping the body and brain learn to feel safe again. People often imagine PTSD as flashbacks, nightmares, or dramatic reactions. Those can happen, but the truth is quieter and more complicated. Trauma can look like exhaustion that never lifts. Irritability that feels out of character. Difficulty concentrating. A body that startles too easily. A mind that shuts down under stress. A heart that wants connection but fears it at the same time. And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: trauma is not a life sentence. The nervous system is built for healing. With the right support—therapy, community, safety, predictabi...

  ADHD is often framed as a barrier. But for many, it’s also the engine that drives creativity, courage, and unconventional success. People with ADHD live in a world that rewards consistency, order, and predictability — three things their brains resist. Yet somehow, they still build careers, raise families, start businesses, and create art that moves people. How? By learning to succeed differently. The Myth of “Try Harder” The world tells people with ADHD that success comes from discipline. But discipline isn’t the same as fit. ADHD brains thrive on novelty, urgency, and interest. When those are missing, effort feels like swimming through glue. When they’re present, focus becomes laser‑sharp and unstoppable. Success comes not from forcing focus, but from designing life around what sparks it. The Real Story of Success Success for someone with ADHD often looks like this: Turning a hyperfocus episode into a breakthrough project Finding creative shortcuts others overlook Building syste...