We knew from a young age that something was different about how I learned…. but it has taken me many years to realize that it was a positive! I finally see that my learning difference has allowed me to become the robust, determined overachiever I am today. Many people are unfamiliar with dyslexia. Dyslexia is one of the most common but frequently misunderstood learning differences. I learn differently but have the same potential as a traditional learner. I just needed to understand how my brain is wired. Most people think that dyslexia is only turning your B’s and D's backward. There is so much more to learning differences that an average person does not know or understand. In kindergarten and first grade, those small sight words got me every time. I could read “there” and “because,” but I had a hard time getting the simple words like “of” and “the” out verbally. Once I started dance class in the second grade, my friends would all twirl to the right, and I would twirl to the left all by myself during a routine. While reading in class with my teacher, I would replace the word “pretty” with “beautiful” and never skip a beat. I am so thankful for each of these instances brought into my life with dyslexia. Dyslexic people are brilliantly creative, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and are usually overachievers. Our brains think differently than most. I will get the same answer to a problem as you do, just in a different way. When I was in fourth grade, we moved to a different city. I was new and still ashamed of my learning difference, and I did not want anyone to know about it except for my teachers. Then, one day, my art teacher, Ms. Lake, told our class that she had dyslexia, and that was my turning point. You see, up until that point in my life, I hated my learning difference, and I did not understand it. I realized she, too, had the same issues that I did; she graduated from high school, went to college, and became a teacher! That was the first time that I realized that with hard work and determination, I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up. From that moment, it was game on! I put much pressure on myself to be the best that I can be in school and life. I have figured out how to study and take tests in a way that my brain can understand. I have pushed myself and done very well in school. I want to become a teacher to help that child who was in my shoes when I was younger. I want them to know they have a bright life ahead of them. I want to be that person in their life that Ms. Lake was in mine. Being in the classroom as a substitute has made me love this career even more. I know that this is a challenging career path. However, I am up for the task ahead of me, and I look forward to being the best teacher I can be.

We knew from a young age that something was different about how I learned…. but it has taken me many years to realize that it was a positive! I finally see that my learning difference has allowed me to become the robust, determined overachiever I am today. Many people are unfamiliar with dyslexia. Dyslexia is one of the most common but frequently misunderstood learning differences. I learn differently but have the same potential as a traditional learner. I just needed to understand how my brain is wired. Most people think that dyslexia is only turning your B’s and D's backward. There is so much more to learning differences that an average person does not know or understand. In kindergarten and first grade, those small sight words got me every time. I could read “there” and “because,” but I had a hard time getting the simple words like “of” and “the” out verbally. Once I started dance class in the second grade, my friends would all twirl to the right, and I would twirl to the left all by myself during a routine. While reading in class with my teacher, I would replace the word “pretty” with “beautiful” and never skip a beat. I am so thankful for each of these instances brought into my life with dyslexia. Dyslexic people are brilliantly creative, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and are usually overachievers. Our brains think differently than most. I will get the same answer to a problem as you do, just in a different way. When I was in fourth grade, we moved to a different city. I was new and still ashamed of my learning difference, and I did not want anyone to know about it except for my teachers. Then, one day, my art teacher, Ms. Lake, told our class that she had dyslexia, and that was my turning point. You see, up until that point in my life, I hated my learning difference, and I did not understand it. I realized she, too, had the same issues that I did; she graduated from high school, went to college, and became a teacher! That was the first time that I realized that with hard work and determination, I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up. From that moment, it was game on! I put much pressure on myself to be the best that I can be in school and life. I have figured out how to study and take tests in a way that my brain can understand. I have pushed myself and done very well in school. I want to become a teacher to help that child who was in my shoes when I was younger. I want them to know they have a bright life ahead of them. I want to be that person in their life that Ms. Lake was in mine. Being in the classroom as a substitute has made me love this career even more. I know that this is a challenging career path. However, I am up for the task ahead of me and I look forward to being the best teacher I can be.