Cart

Helpline: 0344 800 84 84

    • The Amazing Dyslexic Poetry Show

    There are some negative perceptions about those with dyslexia. Such as:- “Lazy”, “Stupid,” “Won’t amount too much” These words are all things that have been said to me. I was aged 7 when I realised I had stories that ran around in my head and I used to daydream, acting them out.  I didn’t know why I struggled at school with writing, maths. I knew as did my sister, as we are twins that we were not able to keep up with other students in class. I recall my primary school days and really enjoyed them, however, my frustrations and those of my sister, manifested themselves as challenging behaviour. We were always at the headmaster’s office.  Instead of getting a right telling off, he talked us through our issues and explained things, so that the subject matter was easier to understand, at our pace of learning, and eventually we started to understand some of the most complex subjects. I have fond memories of him, as he had time to go through things with us.  Primary school was my only positive experience of education. Secondary school was a big challenge.  It was a busier environment, as we had not passed the 11 plus.  We were placed in the bottom class, so were labelled at the age of 12, and that’s where things started to go wrong for both of us. Inevitably, I left school at 15, with no qualifications.  I was deemed not suitable to be entered into any exams, so left on the scrap heap at just 15.  I did manage to secure a job washing up in a café on Hastings pier in Sussex. It didn’t last long, my parents divorced, I became homeless at 18. I recall one occasion I went for an interview in a supermarket. I was told by the interviewer that I would not “amount to much”.  This left me feeling useless, hopeless, and stupid. My self-esteem already low, hit rock bottom.  It was official.  I was useless, or so I thought. Then whilst walking in Brighton I saw a man, who looked disheveled. I thought he was homeless, he had holes in his jacket, and was carrying a plastic bag with papers bulging out of it. He looked quite distinguished, despite his appearance. I don’t recall how we got talking, but he could tell I was dyslexic, just after a few minutes of meeting me. This rather eccentric looking man turned out to be a law professor at the University of Sussex and he mentored me. I passed GCSEs I passed A Levels I went to University and studied law, obtaining a 2.1 with honours. I had passed exams! I qualified as a lawyer. Not bad for someone who wouldn’t amount to much, and had been, classed as lazy, useless, and stupid. Even though I’d managed to get some confidence back, I found myself having difficulties in my professional life, which resulted in a flood of low self- esteem and culminating in a mental breakdown but with counselling I got better. I realised that I was not stupid, or lazy.  I could achieve and amount to whatever I wanted to do.  I could live my dreams, stories were still in my head. These stories are now published and more stories are waiting to be written. I have won awards for my poetry and plays. I am dyslexic that’s who I am.  I do not have to apologise for this. If I read slower, if I use a finger to read text, if my words are jumbled and I say things back to front or have to spell words out,  this is just who I am, a dyslexic woman! This is why my show, making it’s debut performance at the Edinburgh fringe festival  “The Amazing Dyslexic Poetry Show” had to be written. It’s a show that inspires you to live your dreams, showing that dyslexia is not a barrier to believing in yourself. It has a powerful message, exploring positivity and some negativity with humour, about hidden disabilities. My show has a selection of poems on dyslexia and some on different themes. I am dyslexic, and proud to be Yes, This is me! Sam Rapp, the Dyslexic poet ________________________________________________________ “The Amazing Dyslexic Poetry Show” The Small Hall, Lauriston Halls, EH3 9DJ; from 6th to 10th August 2019. Show starts 19:00 (More info here)