Like other dyslexics, I was gifted with an unusual talent for creativity and imagination.  Yet, I grew up wondering why school was difficult for me as my fellow peers seemed to excel in areas that I struggled with the most, reading and word comprehension.  It wasn't until seventh grade that I was tested, upon my parent's request, and diagnosed with dyslexia.  I had a reading level of a third grader, yet was pushed through school as a lazy, below average child, when I was nothing of the sort.  In fact my parents found it strange how I would get home from middle school and do homework until 11pm at night, always putting in 110 percent, but taking an abnormal amount of time to do so. 

     Despite the hardships that dyslexia has given me throughout my 26 years, including stressful test taking, confusing reading assignments, low self-esteem and feeling stupid among my peers, the true Gift of Dyslexia was always there, I just needed to get past all the negatives and find the positives of dyslexia. 

     My ability to draw, and curiosity as a young child set me apart from other students.  Then choir, gymnastics, 4-H, and public speaking helped me get through middle school.  Then in high school I became involved in theater, dance, clubs, organizations, publications, anything and everything involving the arts and leadership positions.  During this time I was experiencing the true gift of dyslexia, the gift of mastery.  Dyslexic individuals will be able to master many skills faster than the average person can comprehend or understand them.  An example of this would be when I started dance.  After less than a year of taking dance classes I tried out for the Yankton High School Dance Team and made it, a team full of girls who had been studying dance since they were three years old.  For some reason, I could learn dance moves at a faster rate than a normal child and after a year and a half I was teaching dance classes in many styles such as, jazz, tap, lyrical, Music Theater, hip hop, ball room, dance team, Spanish, Can Can, gymnastics, and cheerleading.  My dance teacher even told my mom that if I would have started dance at an early age, my skills would have been above average and who knows where I could have gone.  Another example of the Gift of Dyslexia would be when I tried out for my first play, "You Can't Take It With You," I was the only freshman girl who made the play out of 100 who tried out and had theater experience.  Dyslexia may have made me struggle in reading areas, but everything else that I touched seemed to be so simple and increased my curiosity to explore new and different things.  Who would have thought that something so negative was really the cause of all the good things in my life? 

     After high school I moved on to my next challenge, attending the University of Kansas, School of Architecture and Urban Design.  College was an eye opener for me. It was definitely more difficult, because of more concentration on literature courses and fewer opportunities to immerse myself in the arts.  Once I got through the general courses, I was able to concentrate again on the things I do best, the artistic and creative side of architecture.  During these years of higher education, I receive extended time on exams and further clarification on readings.  Yet through the numerous failures and setbacks, I can now say that because of the Gift of Dyslexia I became a successful architecture student, a two minute project designer, and one of the best hand drafters in the school.

     In May 2007 I received  my Master of Architecture degree, completed my Master's Thesis, "Redefining Pediatric Healthcare Facilities, and graduated with emphases in dance and political science.  Today I am a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, performer, and an artist.  I am working on becoming  LEED (Green Architecture) certified and a licensed architect in the state of Texas, where I currently live.  I am also happy to say that I will have extended time on all of my exams and a seperate testing room to help meet my specific needs as a dyslexic.  Thank you to all who have helped me achieve my goals.  So the next time you look at dyslexia as a terrible disability, just know that it is really a Gift!