Dreams Dont Work Unless You Do

Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do When I think about my own education I think of the limitations I’ve had more than my advantages because of my learning disability. In my early years of elementary school I discovered I had a learning disability along with struggling with an attention deficit disorder. In elementary school I was put on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to ensure I could succeed with extra help. My education limitations for me are having a learning disability along with struggling with an attention deficit disorder and my advantages from my education would be being provided modifications because of my learning disability. The biggest limitation I’ve struggled with through my education is having a learning disability. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, “a learning disability is more than a “difference” or “difficultly” with learning-it’s a neurological disorder that affects the brains ability to receive, process, store and respond to information” (NCLD). Especially in middle school and high school is when school was not a top priority for me and I soon realized that was a mistake. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school I started gaining the motivation to do well in school and begin to think seriously about my future after high school. In the reading, “The Joys of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me” Sherman Alexie says, “I refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky.” That quote explains this time in my life perfectly, I became determined to do better in school for myself because I knew I was smart enough and I deserved a brighter future. Once junior year started, I began testing for the ACT. After not scoring very high I became devoted to a private tutor three times a week after school during the first half of my senior year. I was determined to raise my score because I knew my GPA alone wasn’t going to get me into the college of my choice. As much time and effort I put in to raising my score to the college requirement I fell short. I know I have never worked harder for anything than to get into the college of my choice. When I was rejected acceptance, it was a dark place for me as I saw all my friends getting accepted and going off to universities that fall. It was a frustrating time for me because I knew I was better than what I made my first two years of high school out to be. I know now that starting my first year of college at Northern Oklahoma College then making it my goal to transfer to a larger university is the best plan for me to be successful. Another limitation that has impacted my education is dealing with an attention deficit disorder. I was diagnosed with A.D.D in elementary school but my parents never wanted to resolve the problem by medicating me. My junior year of high school I realized I needed to find out if there was a way to minimize my disorder because I found it getting worse. My parents agreed to have me reexamined and then was soon put on medication. After a couple months of being medicated for my disorder my parents and I saw an improvement in my grades and test scores. After seeing improvement in my schoolwork, I often wonder if I had been treated for my attention disorder sooner if I still would have been unmotivated the start of high school and if my plan for college would have worked out the way I had dreamed it for myself. An advantage in my education is being provided certain modifications because of my learning disability. Modifications I received in elementary school were spending my English, reading, and math subjects with a teacher who is certified in teaching students with learning disabilities for more individual help. In middle school I had choices of taking tests in a quieter setting so I wouldn’t be distracted and I was allowed a calculator for math. Once I got into high school I had the same accommodations as in middle school but I found myself not using them as much since I was doing well in school and I was being treated for my attention disorder. I also had accommodations for my ACT testing; I was given a day for each section and extended time. I truly believe my accommodations through my education have been the biggest advantage for me. When I think about my education I may think of the struggles I’ve had before the advantages I’ve had, but I handle having a learning disability and an attention deficit disorder much different than I did in the past. I’m much more motivated to do well in college and not let my disabilities be the reason I can’t succeed. There hasn’t been a day I had to work less since becoming treated for my disability, I’ve learned from my mistakes in the past and I plan to continue to work hard so I can have an even brighter future after college.