Introducing me...

[MollysVoice]

Hi there!

My name's molly and I’m a 16 year old, and am in year 11, my last year at school. I have been diagnosed with Meares Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia since the age of 5.

I have always struggled with it, especially in school. For as long as i can remember my parents have had a constant battle with my teachers. ‘Shes intelligent. She just doesn’t try. She’s holding herself back’ are things i am overly used to hearing and rather sick of because in actual fact, im probably trying harder than anyone else in the class. All in all i have had 3 teachers over the years who truly have understood and helped me, and un-surprisingly they are the classes i have excelled the most in....and the teachers that don't believe i'm simply being difficult.

I've shoved a lot of my emotions from Dyslexia into sport, and can say that i wouldn't know where i would be without it. I've put my all into my horses and have become very attached and very dedicated. Being with my horses has given me something i'm not just told i'm good at, but that i can see and feel improvement... My horses over the years have shown me that, i do see things in a different way to so called 'normal' people, but that it's okay and if anything it's helped me and it's a gift. That's what Dyslexia should be seen as...a gift.

I realize the issues a lot of people, especially young people, have to deal with around Dyslexia and i believe it's time that everyone is a lot more aware of it. I believe teachers should be trained, that support should be given, and people should never think they are dealing with anything alone.

On my work experience in November 2011, i worked with Dyslexia Action and my eyes we're opened. I did a lot of work with the teachers, admin and psychologists. Along the way i met some lovely people, staff and clients who shared experiences and feelings with me...i had never really met anyone else with Dyslexia as such. I learnt a lot during those two weeks,i saw how much effort, determination and care was put into the heart of Dyslexia Action...I knew i wanted more to do with them on my paths, and to help in any way i could. So i'm thrilled that i have now been asked to regularly blog for them as they start their new forum here.

Hope i can help, encourage, support, teach and entertain you along the way!

Molly x

[Kate_DA]

So glad to have you on board Molly

[tizaac]

im so glad as a parent to have found you and i have just shown my son your post on exam stress, guess what he said, he felt the same so good luck with all your work, our family will be glad of your support and advise

[MollysVoice in reply to tizaac]

That's so lovely to hear, Thankyou.

It's common for people who don't have an extra struggle to cope with exam's I've seen.....and with the difficulty's Dyslexia presents us with over looked, sadly we get the back end of it.

But at the end of the day, we also have alot of things going for us, that others don't x

[cedarmoon]

Hi Molly - I'm a teacher who used to work independently with people your age so I know what you have been going through. But what a very mature young person you are! You don't appear to feel sorry for yourself and you seem to have a good insight into your dyslexia. I'm glad that you have been working with Dyslexia Action (I trained with them). They certainly know what they are doing and I have based all my work on their training. Well done, and keep going.

[MollysVoice in reply to cedarmoon]

Thankyou for the comment, Yes the people i've had the pleasure of working with in Dyslexia Action, certainly do and what they do is fantastic, underestimated at times because they really do make changes to lives.

Yes, i've always tried to understand what's going on in my won brain...so at least when others have no clue, i kind of do! I've learnt to see the positives, and funnily enough, often, they out weigh the negatives

All schools should have at least one teacher, that's what you seem to be. Dylsexics need supporting too! x