Learning difficulties are extremely common and many different types exist.
I never knew I had learning difficulties until I went to university, where I had a test done by a psychologist that showed I have dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Growing up
When I was growing up, I just saw myself as someone who wasn’t very clever when it came to learning, but in reality, it just came down to the way my brain functions.
Luckily, my university was very supportive and allowed me to get help during exams by giving me breaks, extra time and access to computers.
This is the sort of support I wish I had at school and college, as I struggled without the essential help.
Clear understanding
At university, I found the best learning methods for me – I am a visual learner and make my notes very colourful, and adding pictures where I can helps me understand things better.
Repetition is also something that works well for me when revising for exams – the more I look at words and write things down, the more likely I am to remember them better. I now like to annotate my notes on my tablet and highlight important information.
Ups and downs
Some days are worse than others – at times, I notice my learning difficulties more and struggle with things that should be easy to do.
I love to read as a hobby; however, words often merge into one another and this makes it difficult to enjoy. I just know I have to take regular breaks. I try not to get frustrated any more, as it is who I am and my learning difficulties do not define me as a person, or my abilities.
My work colleagues are very supportive and will help me whenever they can if I have more difficult days.
Belief
I have never let my learning difficulties defeat me or get in the way of my goals. I achieved my degree in veterinary nursing, I have taken part in doing Schedule 3 procedures – such as dental scale and polishes, and stitch ups – and completed a dental certificate.
In the future, I plan on completing more certificates and writing more articles.
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