Lyakhov with Krik, Carlson, Noem, and Bannon

For the overwhelming majority of my life, I suffered from undiagnosed ADHD. I did not understand why I could not read a page from a book, why writing a single sentence often felt impossible, or why classrooms felt like cages rather than gateways. The inability to concentrate, finish assignments, or absorb information left me in a constant state of self-doubt. Until last year, I did not have a diagnosis. I simply had confusion, frustration, and silence.

Receiving a diagnosis did not erase the past, but it gave meaning to it. Once I understood the cause of my academic struggles, I was finally able to reclaim my education. The focus I lacked became attainable. The confidence I never had began to emerge. I read my first book at sixteen. I found an outlet for my voice through writing—political commentary, op-eds, and interviews with national leaders. Writing became not only my method of expression but also my mission.

At the Turning Point USA conference, I was no longer the student overlooked in the back row of a classroom. I was a nationally syndicated columnist, the youngest in the country, contributing weekly to platforms such as Newsmax and Townhall Media. I regularly publish in the New York Post, The Hill, and The Wall Street Journal.

I spoke on several programs about my experience living undiagnosed with ADHD for sixteen years and explained how that experience informs my advocacy. On stage and off, I continued making the case for school choice. I did not deliver rehearsed slogans or empty talking points. I spoke as someone who personally experienced the consequences of a one-size-fits-all education system. I represent students who were forgotten because they did not fit into the traditional academic mold. I understand the pain of a system that equates test scores with intelligence and attendance with potential. I understand what it feels like to be ignored.

I advocate for school choice because I have lived through what happens when families are denied options. I am currently completing my first book, Advocating for School Choice, which will detail my own journey while offering a policy framework that prioritizes parental rights and student needs. Students deserve schools that fit their learning styles. Parents deserve the freedom to send their children to institutions that will recognize, support, and challenge them appropriately. Zoning laws and bureaucratic contracts should not dictate a child’s future.

At the conference, I had the opportunity to meet high-profile political leaders and attend discussions with the individuals responsible for much of my early political education. Among those individuals was Charlie Kirk. Years ago, I never imagined meeting him. At SAS, he recognized me personally for my writing and offered words of encouragement. Whether one agrees with his political views or not, Charlie Kirk has created a platform that changes lives. My life is among them.

Over the course of the weekend, I secured several upcoming interviews and have already been invited to appear on major national shows.

I remain grateful to Turning Point USA for offering a platform to young leaders. The weekend in Tampa was not just a conference. It was a moment of affirmation—for my work, my purpose, and the direction in which I am headed. The public support, private encouragement, and professional opportunities that emerged from this event have permanently changed the trajectory of my life.

Major announcements will follow in the coming weeks. The journey is only beginning. But the message is already clear: even the most unlikely stories can become national ones.