So you're wondering, what is hyperlexia? Well, it's a compound of being both hyperactive and surprisingly, able to read quicker than others. Specifically speaking, it's a child's precocious ability to read before they even start kindergarten, along with a lifelong fascination with written material. Now, there's one complication: while hyperlexics do have high intelligence and are basically experts at decoding languages, a lot of them are on the autism spectrum.

I was diagnosed with hyperlexia at an early age, although I didn't find out about my disorder until I was in my early teens; even then, I wasn't gonna let it be a handicap to me at all.

Unfortuntately, I've learned the hard way that it was easier said than done.

A lot of times when I was younger, I was exhibiting numerous symptoms that are most commonly associated with autism, such as issues with social interactions and communication, and ritualistic behaviors. Although I've managed to improve in all of those fields, I still have to convince myself every day not to slip back into my old self. Something else I had to deal with is the fact that hyperlexia isn't really discussed directly by the mainstream, usually just deemed as an indistinguishable "disease", the same way autism has been in the past.

And for most of my life, I have kept my disorder as a closely guarded secret, because I can't handle it when people look at me in a negative way. It makes me feel like I'm being villified, and it even makes me think someone might be out to hurt me because I'm that different.

Even though I will be a junior in college next year, I still don't have all the social cues locked down the same way I do with academics. To be honest, it's both embarrassing and devastating to have to cope with that, because when I don't study around the clock, I'm always trying my best to make new friends. Plus, it never feels good when people show a lack of trust, write me off as crazy or annoying, say I make them uncomfortable or worse, judge me without even getting to know me, even for just a few seconds. I mean, people my age, although they don't try to look beyond their perspective or always think through their decisions, should be mature enough to look past others' disabilities and what they like/dislike to try to get along for the greater good, shouldn't they?

But what was the silver lining in having hyperlexia for me? I never had to be medicated to control my impulsivity, and it was all because my parents believed in letting nature allow me to grow as healthily as possible. Although I was made to repeat the second grade by them because of my disorder, it was for the best.

Yeah, I've been ashamed to be suffering from hyperlexia from a young age, but I would never let it stop me from succeeding in life, and making it to where I am now. Despite the fact that plenty of famous people have battled with autism, not very many of them are known to have hyperlexia like I do. However, that didn't stop me or them from accomplishing our goals, because we know that you can do it if you work hard, and set your mind to it.

So, I hope anyone reading this who suffers from hyperlexia to never let it get in the way of your dreams, because you can make it happen.