How has informal education played a role in your academic success? by Chloe

How has informal education played a role in your academic success? by Chloe - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

“I don’t ‘suffer’ from dyslexia, I live with it and work with it.” This quote by Erin Cook is how I feel about having ADHD and dyslexia. When I was in elementary school, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as a Specific Learning Disability consistent with dyslexia.

These conditions have affected my life in different ways. For example, in the summer of seventh grade, I received my class schedule, and when I compared mine to my friends' schedules, I didn’t have the same classes as them because of the accommodations I needed. I was in classes that assisted children with learning disabilities. This has continued each year since then. Being separated from my friends at school has caused me at times to feel self-conscious. However, I have pushed through to be more independent and to not compare my academic journey with others.

Throughout my education, I have been provided with traditional resources to help me learn. Teachers have guided me as I work with my disability. That said because of ADHD and dyslexia, I have learned to advocate for myself and look for ways to understand assignments outside of the classroom. I have found that some of the best tools for me to leverage have come from more informal methods. Some examples include videos on YouTube, studying with friends, online research, and making notes before class. With a combination of those resources as well as being persistent and working hard, I have done very well in school. This has resulted in me getting into the National Honors Society and having good grades. These skills I have developed are tools that I will use during college and in everyday life.

The challenges of living with ADHD and dyslexia have taught me many things about myself. Throughout my academic career, I have had a lot of self-doubt. I have often thought I can’t do this or that because I learn differently than other people. However, I now know this is simply not true. What I’ve come to understand is that not everyone learns things in the same way, and that is okay. It is also good to seek out resources outside of traditional methods. As I get older, I do not want these conditions to be an excuse for why I can’t do something. I have proven to myself that with the right tools and resources that work for me, I am capable of achieving my goals.