Madelaine Armstrong-Willcocks, Head of Programmes at the Neurodiversity in Education Project, turns big ideas into practical support. Here, she shares one of her brain’s greatest strengths—focus!
A Brain Built for Deep-Diving
If my brain had a trademark strength, it would be deep-diving.
My uniquely interesting brain loves to—and needs to—learn more, know more, and connect more. It feels restless and unsatisfied when stuck at surface level or lacking the time and resources to dive deep. But when it does? It feels satiated, expanded, connected, and alive.
A Love for Knowledge, From the Start
Some of my earliest memories of this deep curiosity come from weekends at my grandparents' house. They had a full set of encyclopedias (long before the internet!), and my greatest joy was being allowed to sit and read them for hours.
I remember the excitement, the absolute thrill of flipping through those pages, and the WOW of discovering something new. A likely bonus for my family? I was quietly entertained for hours!
Not Just Collecting Facts—Connecting Them
My brain isn’t just a magpie collecting random information. It loves connecting the dots in new ways, building webs of ideas and insights. As a child, I’d move from one book to the next in the nonfiction section of my local library. Now, I do the same through Audible and GoodReads recommendations.
The Fascination (and Frustration) of Deep-Diving
Deep-diving can be both exhilarating and challenging. My brain needs to learn, like a body needs fuel. But sometimes, I don’t have the time to follow every interesting thread. Luckily, I know my brain tucks them away for later—like an exciting event I can’t wait to attend.
For me, deep-diving isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about joy, connection, and the thrill of discovery.