Like most United States children, I learned my reading, writing, and arithmetic through public education. When I was in the first grade, my parents were told by my teacher that the school system was passing me along due to my ADHD. The resources counselor recommended that they invest in a computer to assist in my learning. My parents were typical middle-class workers and, therefore, had to work very hard to afford such a luxury as a computer in the early 90’s. They made it work, and I was able to jump from the bottom of my class to the middle without too much trouble. The exception was my writing skills. I struggled with writing based on the materials I had heard or read. I worked hard but my writing skills lacked behind those of my peers.
All that changed when I was the focus of my writing assignments became less about writing about what I read or heard and was open to my options. Things changed in my junior year, especially my senior year of high school. It was no coincidence that my grade coincided with more free writing assignments. I found assignments where I was telling a story or expressing my opinion came naturally to me. My high school English teacher, whose name, unfortunately, is lost to me, pulled me aside after class one day and said that I would never be a walking dictionary since vocabulary was not my strong suit and I didn’t need to be to make a compelling and down to earth story or persuasion. My ability to handwrite a document was not something I should force myself to do. She told me to embrace my shortcomings, focus on the story or argument I was trying to tell, and use technology to my advantage. I took that to heart, and after that semester and all through my time in college and even in the workforce, my writing ability astonished my teachers and peers. I have limited my handwritten comments, stories, or other writings to solely my notes. I use technology whenever possible, which has always worked to my advantage.
So why did I tell you about my writing journey? It was not to brag. I know that my speed and vocabulary pale in comparison to the likes of my peers even today. I told this story to pass on the lessons that I learned. Embrace your strengths while acknowledging your weaknesses. Don’t let your weakness hold you back, but find a way to put those strengths you have to compensate and overcome the obstacles in your way. Do you know where your strengths lie, and how do you overcome the shortcomings?
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