IMPROVING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES DESPITE A LEARNING DIFFERENCE

For years, my family and teachers believed I was either incapable of learning or not trying hard enough, in fact, lazy. Despite their discouraging remarks, I persisted in elementary school and high school. I never realized I had any learning differences until I struggled to learn in college, far more than my peers who studied half as much as I did, yet, they learned twice as much in half the time that I had to spend in studies.

It was not always easy for me. I married right after I graduated from high school, and by the time I entered college, I was divorced with two children. I suspected I had a learning difference, and found that the writing and math centers in the college did not always address the issue of the cause of my learning struggle. I turned for assistance to a learning specialist, then was completely shocked to find that my reading fluency was on the college level, but my reading comprehension was on a third grade level in standardized tests. My spelling also was weak, and I confused letters within the word, either reading or spelling board for broad or trial for trail.

I was especially discouraged by these problems, since I planned to be a paralegal. I almost quit, but the learning specialist suggested I should use techniques for learning that are appropriate for those with a learning difference. Luckily, I followed her advice, and found that in two months my reading scores advanced by six years; I was reading on the ninth grade level in standardized testing. Most important, I no longer reversed the order of letters in a word either when I read or wrote. As a result, my reading, spelling, study and notetaking skills became more effective, and the time I spent on homework lessened dramatically, while my retention improved.

Then, I received the encouragement I least expected and appreciated most. My academic advisor informed me that, since my GPA was so high, I should set my sights even higher than being a paralegal and become an attorney. I would encourage anyone who struggles with a learning difference to persevere in finding the appropriate care in order to have a better life.

Janet Renaldo is the pseudonym of a student in pre-law studies in Maryland.