> Paying attention in class might be a legitimate issue requiring medication for some people

Considering I would be classified as a member of this group, let me ask:

> but otherwise it, and doing optional assignments, are a choice

If attention is a choice, then how reliably can you control your attention based your choice?

For the sake of analogy, is being able to control one's attention like controlling one's breathe? As in, one can consciously be aware of and control their breathing to some degree, but without a conscious choice, breathing will still operate in the background. Or is attention something like a voluntary muscle movement which requires explicit intention?

I am asking because I have/had little to no control over my ability to focus. Thus, I am curious what it is like for others.