Dyslexia makes me me

by Aimee McAuly

From the start, I was never told that dyslexia could stop me from doing anything. In fact, I was told it gave me creativity and insights others don’t have. Since I believed that, I feel like it’s one of the reasons I just got an A in my English exam. No matter how shocked teachers were that “someone with dyslexia” could be so interested and good at the subject, I continued to learn in a way my head could accept, which helped grow my love for a subject my brain was supposed to reject.

I was identified with dyslexia from the get-go. And luckily for me, instead of it being ignored, I had a mum and teacher who pushed to make sure I was not only tested but had all the resources and help I needed. Mr Gonnet was a teacher who really listened to an eight-year-old little girl and made sure I had every bit of support going forward throughout school. He showed me that I was more than just dyslexia – I was me – and that I just had to learn in ways that helped me. And that’s exactly what I did. I never gave up, even when things felt impossible – and trust me, having seven written subjects this year felt impossible. I felt like words and information were drowning me. But I took a step back and looked at it from a different angle. I put all subjects into lists: the ones I wanted and needed to work on most, and then the rest. None were less important – I just had to prioritise. English was at the top of that list.

Now that I know

After being identified, my primary school added me to lots of support and learning groups. My favourite was the creative writing group. I loved knowing that I could make up anything I wanted – any world, anyone. I found it fun, and that’s where I think I discovered my favourite subject. I continued to write hundreds of stories, and finally, when I got a Chromebook from school during COVID, it changed everything. I was actually keeping up with everyone else in my class.

High school eventually came. Again, things were never ‘easy’, but I still had help. Growing up, I was never taught dyslexia was a bad thing – in fact, the opposite. Mum taught me about successful people who were just the same, and how my brain just learns differently. So talking about it and asking for help was never difficult for me.

One day, when nothing I read was sticking – I read over and over and had no idea what it said – I told the teacher. She read it to me once and it made sense. It only took five seconds to ask and make that lesson easier. And yes, we do need to put in extra work, but at the end of the day, it actually helps us and our work ethic.

I can’t say I have always loved my dyslexia, but I’ve never known life without it, and I don’t think I would change a thing. I know I have it, so I’ve always put effort in and tried really hard for things. I usually do well, so I need to kinda thank my dyslexia for that at least – because without it, I might not have that discipline.

I definitely worked hard to get my A in English, but a strong support system from an early age really sculpted a positive outlook and completely eradicated any ‘taboo’ for me.

And I mean, I actually do like being dyslexic. It really does make me me.