Channing Tatum struggled with ADHD and dyslexia

Channing Tatum, 34, may currently be on the top of his game with the sequel to the 2012 hit, Magic Mike currently filming and the third Jump Street movie on the way, however he hasn’t always been there. Channing, who is receiving praise for his portrayal of Mark Schultz in Bennett Miller‘s new film Foxcatcher, admits to struggling with A.D.H.D and dyslexia in his youth.

The actor discusses his struggles with The New York Times’ T Magazine, saying, “I have never considered myself a very smart person, for a lot of reasons.” Channing explains the challenges he faced in the education system, “not having early success on that one path messes with you. You get lumped in classes with kids with Autism and Down Syndrome and you look around and say, ‘Okay, so this is where I’m at.’ Or you get put in the typical classes and you say, ‘All right, I’m obviously not like these kids either.’ So you’re kind of nowhere. You’re just different.”

Channing, who attended college on a football scholarship before dropping out, explains his own way of learning:”I just learned everything I could from anybody who knew something I didn’t.” He adds, “I think that’s one thing I’m pretty skilled at. I can look at a person and say, ‘They’ve got something that I want up there in their head. I’m going to do my best to get in there and absorb it.’ My mom said, ‘Be a sponge.’ And so I’ve learned more from people than I have from school or from books.”

Channing may have faced obstacles but he explains how they have made him who he is today. “Personally, I like being pushed into corners,” he says, “It forces you to be creative.” ~Janine Wyslobicky