This was homework that Andrew work on and got Claude to help him with. Claude and I were very impressed and proud of the work that Andrew did. I am forever grateful for meeting Claude and seeing how he made Andrew shine!
My Changing Destiny
Being told that you won’t graduate by professionals is destructive, hurtful and not always true. My journey has been a difficult one. It all started when I was young, and could not read nor write. Initially, my parents were told that this would pass, and I was a late bloomer. As you can imagine, it did not pass, and I did not bloom. In fact, I became more frustrated, acted out or didn’t act at all. Eventually, my parents took control of the situation, and the diagnosis soon followed like a guillotine in the French Revolution!
“No wonder, he’s dyslexic” they now proclaimed. But the story did not end in immediate jubilance. One neuropsychologist energetically exclaimed that “Andrew will not succeed in the regular system as his case is too severe”. Another added in that familiar, all-knowing tone: “There are options for him, but just not in a regular classroom”. It appeared that I was now labelled, and left floundering in an educational system that prided itself on building a world in which <students come first>. Evaluations were easy, finding help was the obstacle that the school system did not provide. My parents were left with the burden of taking my education forward not only financially, but fighting a system that was not there to help me constructively. I was not alone. In fact, 25% of students shared my language difficulty with me, and they, as well, were unattended to in equal fashion.
I felt that I could not learn. I understood everything, but could not express it on paper, nor read it easily in text form. I felt judged, left aside, but several people around me coached me to success. Learning in a school scared me. My ears and mind were willing, but I lacked the skills necessary to advance.
Help finally came. I learned all my sounds in Reading and was taught how to write. Dyslexia is not curable but it is treatable. Despite the condemning words of my Elementary School Director that I would go no further, I did and I will continue to do so. Granted, this is not an easy struggle, however, dyslexics can learn and prosper. Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, Hans Christen Anderson, Agatha Christie, Tom Cruise, Anderson Cooper, Steven Hawkins, Richard Branson and Albert Einstein were all dyslexic and led the world in their respective professions.
My journey is not complete. I must make a greater effort than many to succeed. I am lucky as I received help, and only 2% of Dyslexics find themselves with assistance. No, I am not dumb nor I am lazy. Things are just a bit more difficult for me. Yes, I can now read and write. Yes, it is not always easy. Yes, the school system failed me. Yes, I can learn and yes, I will achieve. As Steven Spielberg noted: <It is more common than you can imagine. You are not alone. And while you will have this the rest of your life, you dart between the raindrops to get where you want to go and it will not hold you back”.
By Andrew Anania