Dyslexia

Hey friends — this is a little long, so feel free to scroll on if it’s not your thing. I want to take a few minutes to share something that’s been on my mind this year and has become more prominent over the past few weeks. But first, a little backstory:

As a kid, I struggled with basic academics in school. Efforts to address this included repeating third grade, working with tutors, enrolling in remedial programs, and receiving special assistance. For the era, I was often an anomaly for my teachers. I was labeled a “smart kid who didn’t apply himself.” That label followed me through high school and into college, where I spent several years struggling to make progress.

Eventually, I took a different path and enrolled in an EMT class. That program allowed me to use my interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. Leaving traditional academics behind, I found confidence and focus in Emergency Medical Services, advancing from EMT-Intermediate to earning my Paramedic license. The EMS community embraced me, helped me grow, and gave me confidence I hadn’t found elsewhere. During this time, I was formally diagnosed with dyslexia. The classic view of dyslexia focuses on reversing numbers or struggling to read, but for me, it often appeared as a lack of attention to detail — glossing over number sequences or making assumptions about written text. Those challenges were offset by my friendly disposition, my ability to communicate, and my knack for thinking differently. I’ve always been able to visualize complex systems in my head, even if I still count on my fingers for simple math. As I matured, I worked hard to understand and improve both my weaknesses and strengths. I returned to college and graduated with high marks. Later, I earned a master’s degree — after initially being rejected from the program. (No kidding — I talked my way in! I keep the rejection letter framed next to my diploma.) Today, my career blends my greatest strengths with my toughest challenges. I get to be creative — designing training exercises that test leaders and analyzing hazards and risks — but I also face the ongoing challenge of detailed data reporting and tracking increasingly complex metrics. The numbers still aren’t easy for me, but I’ve learned to manage them. I’ve been thinking a lot about dyslexia lately — about how it impacts my work, and about how the past few years of homeschooling have affected families with kids whose brains just work a little differently. I often hear from parents who are worried about their child’s learning struggles. They feel frustrated, sad, or defeated when their child doesn’t meet traditional academic expectations. I understand that fear — but I hope they come to see that there’s nothing wrong with their child. Different is good. Different is powerful. In our house, dyslexia is a superpower. Those of us who think differently often outnumber the “normal” folks three to one. We make it a point to celebrate the amazing strengths dyslexia brings while also working through the challenges. There’s a quote I love: “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid.” We all have strengths and weaknesses that shape who we are and how we see the world. Take a moment to appreciate your unique strengths — and reflect on the things that make you work a little harder. Both are part of what make you, you. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts today. If you’d ever like to talk more about this topic, feel free to reach out. Would you like me to adapt this into a more web-friendly version (shorter paragraphs and a clearer intro hook) if you plan to post it on your personal website or blog?