An Open Letter To The Person Who Struggles With A Learning Disability

It's 10 pm and your assignment is due at midnight. You have been working on this assignment all day and you’re nowhere near done with it. You have read the assignment over three times and yet somehow you’re still unable to comprehend it. In addition, you asked the professor to explain what exactly needs to be done, yet your still confused. You’re spending every waking moment trying to figure out how this assignment will be done in time because you know it will take you forever.

Every class you sit up in the front with your cellphone put away because you know the second the teacher talks you will have to listen carefully. Before an exam you start preparing two weeks in advance because you know that this is the only way you will pass. You spend countless hours re reading the articles your teacher assigned because you know they’re going to be on the test, but the first time you read it you didn’t understand a word of what it said.

Your friends will never understand where you’re coming from. None of your friends are going through the same thing. They consistently have free time and are passing their classes with no problems. They have three exams that week, yet you never saw them pick up a book once. There you are with a stack of index cards studying for a test while they watch their favorite TV show. You would like to watch the show, but once those index cards are put down the anxiety begins to appear.

Anything school related is a challenge for you. Whenever something is due you cringe knowing what is about to happen. The biology test you have next week has been on your mind for two weeks now. That paper which was due yesterday makes you want to scream because you could have done better on it. The work that you do is never good enough. No matter how hard you try, you’re still feeling like a failure. Every failing grade you get is just another piece of evidence to prove that you’re going to do nothing with your life. These are just some of the thoughts that run through your head.

We live in a society where everything needs to be “normal”. Were all programmed to do things the same way, yet we all go at our own pass. Ever notice when you’re taking a test no one finishes at the same time? It’s because we do things individually and at our own time. Every person is different from the next and you my friend are no exception. The difference between you and everyone else is that you take a little extra time. It may take you an extra hour to read an article or do an assignment, but at the end of that day you will get it done.

Know what works best for you. Figure out a way to be productive and efficient at your own pace. Just because your friend studies for a test one way doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. If your frustrated which is common for those who have a learning disability remember to take a deep breathe. Relax; try to break up your work load. Remember not everything has to be done at once. If you are stuck, walk away for a quick second. Maybe the thought will pop into your head later. I know you don’t think that you done have enough time to do everything, but trust me you do. Except the fact that you are not a part of the norm. You view school work as a challenge which one day hopefully you can overcome.

Living with a learning disability is not easy, yet it makes you who you are. It is a part of you so try to make the best out of it my friend. Embrace the fact you know how to challenge yourself. Some people will never understand what it’s like to struggle in life. But you my friend have all ability to fight. You might not know/ understand this just yet but you do. Your time will come; just wait.