The Truth About Dyslexics

Student Persuasive Essay by Cate Owens

        The little seven year old girl swallowed as she looked at the book in front of her. Frog and Toad used to be her favorite bedtime story, but now it had become a pool full of swimming words and pictures. “Go ahead,” her mom said, gesturing to the book. She bit her lip and started reading. Only a page in, her mom said the dreaded sentence “Try again.” Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes. That is how it went every time a word came that the little girl couldn't read. More tears flowed, and anger welled up until she finally said, “the end.” 

        The truth is that that little girl has Dyslexia. Most neurotypical children are past reading Frog and Toad by seven, yet this little girl was still at a five year old reading level. This is no fault of her own nor the fault of her parents. Dyslexia is a genetic disorder that causes the people who have it to have problems with reading, spelling, and arithmetic. However these people who have it, Dyslexics, are not at a disadvantage like so many think that they are.  

        Students with Dyslexia will never learn the same way as their classroom peers. However, because they are forced to work through learning challenges, such as letters that float around on the page and numbers mixing themselves up, these students are often more adaptable and successful than the average person. Thomas Jefferson, one of the many presidents with dyslexia said, “Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.“

        Some might just think that, once you learn to work with dyslexia, the problem will slowly fade; however, that is very much mistaken. Young or old, the dyslexic learner has to deal with it their whole lives. Even though this problem might sound like a horrible challenge,  it's really not.  Because of their issues, Dyslexics have a completely different perspective on everything around them. For example, A challenging, problem- solving puzzle for neurotypical people can be a simple task to some dyslexics. Many find it odd that people who are having trouble with the basics of reading and writing can find solutions to the problems neurotypical people can't necessarily see.   

        Dyslexics also have something called three-dimensional thinking. When most neurotypicals think of something, what comes to mind is like a kids picture, more of colors and shapes than a real picture. In contrast, most Dyslexics see in three dimensions. It is like having a 3D monitor in your mind's eye. This is why most dyslexics become interior designers, graphic artists, and authors; in order to work with their overactive minds and not against them. However some dyslexics are taught that there is no way to work with the effects of dyslexia and live their whole lives thinking that they are dumb. On the contrary to this misconception, George Washington claimed that “99% of failures come from people who make excuses.” President Washington also had severe dyslexia. 

        Indeed many people with Dyslexia have to take a specific medication to keep their mind in check; otherwise, they would not be able to work normally. However, that doesn't mean they are dumb. Rather, it means that their logical minds work faster than an average human. Just because someone faces a particular learning disorder, it does not mean that that person is stupid. Rather, this very challenge might be the gift that causes a student to solve difficult problems, and excel in life. Theodore Roosevelt said “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”  The seven year old girl in the story above believed she could and now she is starting to work on her degree in forestry with every plan of writing her own book series. To every dyslexic person out there,  let no one tell you that you can not excel because “There are thousands to prophesy failure, there are thousands to point out to you one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you but just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; just start in to sing as you tackle the thing that “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.” Edgar A Guest.