My struggle, my superpower

Growing up in the 1980s, the word ‘dyslexia’ wasn’t something that was talked about or used in schools, and certainly not in mine. It was a taboo subject, rarely mentioned and even more rarely understood. Very early on, I was placed into the ‘she can’t read or write’ category and, without question, left there with little support. No one took the time to ask why. I just knew I didn’t fit the mould — and for years, that made me feel like there was something intrinsically wrong with me.

The classroom was a scary place. I dreaded being asked to read aloud or write in front of others. I used to panic, hoping to stay invisible, praying no one would notice how hard I was struggling. So, when I first discovered dental nursing — a hands-on, practical profession — it felt like I had finally found a lifeline. For the first time, I wasn’t in a classroom, and I didn’t have to prove myself with pen and paper. I could do everything I needed to in my role extremely well, but I just could not write about doing it. It felt like I had finally found my place and a professional role in which I could thrive.