Overcoming my shortcomings by Anastasia

Overcoming my shortcomings by Anastasia - August 2023 Scholarship Essay

Until I could remember, I have always had trouble reading. I was never good at basic reading skills that people learn in first grade. I have fallen behind in school on multiple occasions while my teachers would turn a blind eye showing little to no concern. Going to sixth grade, having a third graders decoding skills, a teacher finally reached out with the help that I needed. I eventually realized what my problem was; I had dyslexia. Since I was in sixth grade, I was never able to receive an IEP. At that time, I was doing much better in school and was told I’m not “dumb” enough to receive one.
I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life. In Chicago, we have to test to be able to get into a selective enrollment high school. These schools are considered better than neighborhood schools. Due to my trouble in school, poor grades, and “incapability” of getting an IEP, I was unqualified for those schools. The refusal took a big toll on my mental health. I repeatedly thought that I was too stupid to be able to be considered for one of those schools. I was disappointed, in denial, and just simply mad. I was angry that I had dyslexia, thinking that that was what had held me back from my aspiration. It didn’t help that all my friends, and even my older brother got into at least one of the eleven selective schools.
Dealing with dyslexia, by myself, I’ve learned many things. For example, I’ve learned how to read by myself, I've mastered teaching myself different ways of learning, and have learned how to push myself through personal hardships. Although dyslexia has many downfalls, I love it. Without my dyslexia, I would never have taught myself (personally my favorite) quality: determination. I have unknowingly taught myself to be determined since I started having to catch up and keep up with my fellow classmates in school. And this determination goes much further than educating myself in school. During my junior year of highschool, I decided to audition for acting schools for college. I had never been in any kind of show or performance before, and was definitely not ready to audition for any type of acting school. However, at the end of all my college applications, prescreens, and auditions, I ended up being accepted into thirteen out of twenty schools I applied for. I am now at a relatively good acting school and if I do say so myself, I am doing well and thriving in my major. This trait of persistence that I now possess is solely from my hard working personality that dyslexia essentially gave me.
And that’s who I want to be. I want to be somebody who is able to achieve their dreams because of their determination. I want to stay determined so I’m able to be different. People always say they want to achieve something but never follow through. I want this determination and a little bit of hard work to push me through whatever comes my way. So, one day, I'm able to say that I have achieved all my dreams because of dyslexia.