If I had the chance to invent a time machine, and revisit the ghosts of school days past, there are many things that I would tell myself as a child that I believe would have helped me have a somewhat happier childhood.
1. You were not made to fit in a box- You think differently, you are quick witted, you have strengths in creative areas, and yes you are a little wacky and thats OK. You have strengths BECAUSE you are dyslexic and you should begin to embrace yourself and your differences, although it is tempting to fit in with the crowd, try not to be like everyone else, it will never bring you true happiness and it will never allow you to reach your fullest potential.
2. You will be successful- Receiving my GCSE results was the first time I experienced real disappointment in myself, I cried for the majority of the day because I didn’t get the grades that I believed I should have had (Although they were above average) Looking back I would tell myself that Success is not measured by the amount of A*s and As you get in school, but by finding an occupation that you are passionate about. So stop crying about these results because the path you are about to take in life will be far more rewarding than any educational path could ever take you on. Education will open the door, but ultimately it will not get you the life you want.
3. Enjoy it more- Take yourself less seriously. Do more of the things you are good at and pay less attention to the people who are negative towards you. Although you don’t know that you are dyslexic yet, the world will continue to seem increasingly enigmatic, however the lessons you are about to learn are invaluable. Learn the lessons with grace but have fun whilst you learn!
4. Value your creative talents more-As a dyslexic young person I was naturally talented in art, however, I was fully aware that most people I encountered didn’t value this as a skill or talent but rather, valued mathematics, and sciences both of which naturally came harder to me. A lot of the time I felt that I was overlooked and favoured less than other more academic students. Being aware of my talents at a younger age and realising that these were the areas that I was more likely to excel in would have been a real self-esteem booster. Rather than struggling with maths and science and actually thinking they were the be all and end all.
5. The school system doesn’t really work for you- Lets face it, yes school has its benefits for some kids, but for you…you are better off finding yourself in an entrepreneurial setting, somewhere you can use your natural leadership skills instead of being overlooked. Do some research on famous dyslexics, identify their struggles and use it as inspiration for the great life only you can create.
Sometimes I wish I knew these things earlier than I do now, but life is also about the learning process, and I am greatful for the lessons I have learned. What would you tell your yourself as younger person? Leave a comment or tweet @_IMdyslexia using the hashtag #DearDyslexicMe.
