The bad news, I was highly dyslexic -- to the point where they questioned my ability to succeed in school, at least at the normal pace. The good news, I had an IQ in the

So throughout grade school, I was given amazing resources in an attempt to stay at grade level academically. But it was a lot for a young girl to take on. I often rebelled because I felt stupid having my tests and quizzes read to me, or being in a lower level math than the rest of my grade, and being taken out of class constantly for evaluations. And often I didn't understand the 'struggles' I was so called 'dealing with,' because I had been 'dealing' with them my entire life. I didn't know reading, spelling or math any other way.

As difficult as it was to do school-related things or keep up, and the many times I was embarrassed or looked past because I was slower, my 'struggles' were what I considered normal. So being so young and naive, I didn't understand why I was treated so differently.

It something that still bothers me to this day, especially now that I know things like reading a clock and seeing letters is easy for people, in fact it comes naturally to them. So it is tough when something so practical comes naturally to people, but it is something I can't seem to do correctly, or at the same pace. Take counting money. While everyone is vulnerable to human error and makes their mistakes here and there, I can never, for the life of me, seem to do it. I either unknowing skip a bill, or number, or I switch up numbers... It is a disaster.

So, as you can see, It effects my everyday life, likewise, abilities. I have definitely put up walls, and put more effort into certain things - I never want to come across as slow or illiterate, especially when it comes to academics and even workplace.

While it sometimes feels as toxic as one, dyslexia is not a virus; it isn't something you can cure. Sure, you learn how to live with it and mechanism to deal with it, but it is something that is always there. A lot of the time it makes me want to rip my hair out. But I can thank it for making me an extremelyorganized person and giving me the ability to think broadly and holistically - yeah those are 'gifts' of dyslexia. And look at me now, I'm in college - sure it's harder than ever, but I am damn proud of myself. I love to read and write, now that it isn't about being at grade level or reading at certain speed or memorizing spelling words. My life with Dyslexia has not been easy, but I wouldn't change it. As cheesy as it sounds, it has shaped me, humbled me and made me stronger and I'm grateful for it.