Landmark Stories

My math class was worse. At age 11, I felt like life was closing in on me, bereft of support, humiliated, and helpless. I always took a long time processing information and never had the confidence to participate in class discussions. I wondered why I was different.

A Sense of Relief

It was under these circumstances—and the advice of a counselor—that my parents took me to New York to be tested for a potential learning disability. The results came in. I was declared dyslexic. The diagnosis brought relief because I now knew what the problem was. My academic advisor at school was informed of the developments, and it was clear that the school was simply not equipped to offer the kind of support I needed. They suggested we look for alternatives.

In a matter of weeks, my life as I knew it, was set to change dramatically. One day, when I returned home from school, my parents sat me down. “We’ve decided to send you to a boarding school in Boston specifically for kids with dyslexia.” It took a few seconds for this to sink in, and then a huge sense of relief washed over me. The cycle of doom appeared to draw to a close. I leaped into my mother’s arms with joy, and she later described the smile on my face as “butter spreading on hot toast.”

Unique Abilities

Coming to Landmark has changed my perspective on how I see learning disabilities. I came from a country where they weren’t widely acknowledged and mainly looked down upon and where students with learning disabilities were stereotyped as “special.” At Landmark, being surrounded by students who share the same struggles as I do and taught by excellent teachers has helped me to finally be myself and set me on a path of self-discovery. I learned that Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Daniel Radcliffe, and countless others have encountered similar issues that I have, and seeing their remarkable success emboldened my spirits.

Landmark has helped me reach my best potential, teaching me skills and helping me improve over time. I have come a long way since freshman year, and being a senior, I feel the difference in me and how I have changed as a learner. I thrive in my new environment. I discovered a love for ceramics, graphic design, and the biggest surprise of all—my love for writing. My learning disability taught me invaluable lessons for life, too. I learned to evaluate my assumptions, question prejudices and biases, and defy stereotypes. As a student with dyslexia, I was berated for not being able to spell correctly. Today, I have learned to spell success on my own terms. Dyslexia no longer seems like a disability, but an opportunity to use my unique ability to live life differently.

Originally published in The Lantern Fall 2021/Spring 2022.

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