Do You Remember Who You Were Before the World Told You Who To Be?
When I was a little girl I wanted to be a doctor. At some point that turned into a marine biologist. Both were great aspirations for a little girl in the 70's. I loved helping people and animals. There were no barriers or doubts. I could be anything I wanted to be as a precocious 7 year old. The world was open, the possibilities were endless.
At the end of 6th grade before we entered junior high we took a placement test and apparently my math skills were not that great. I was placed in a lower math then all of my friends and this devastated me. I did not want to go to junior high. This awesome transition was now tainted by my supposed stupidity. My family began placing limitations on my dreams. I could be a nurse or a vet assistant. My all time favorite was " it's ok you will marry well"!
What the hell! Why was this done, why is this done to children all over our country every day! If a school system sees a problem they should fix the problem not look for an easy way out! Back then ADD was not a thing. I was on a first name basis with principle and guidance counselors due to my complete inability to stay in my seat or play practical jokes on other kids. My teachers could not read my written work because it was always jumbled and out of order, but I was allowed to answer the questions verbally and still pass. I would not find out until college that I also had dyslexia.
In my teens I threw myself full force into dancing. Choreographers did not care about my grades, just my ability to pirouette. I was not a great dancer! I was good, but not great and I knew I never would be. This began my transition into writing, theater and film. In my mind this still did not require education. I had given up on myself as soon as everyone else gave up on me. The crazy part is the amount of knowledge it takes to put on a show or make a film is insane! The math and science alone needed to make sets, shoot characters at every possible angle, understand the lighting, I could go on and on.
I went to college a bit later in life. I took a few years off and worked for a film studio and wrote plays on the side. When I applied to college it was kind of a joke. I really did not think I had a chance in hell of getting in. I applied to one college, not a small school by any means, and was accepted! I was in shock and suddenly very scared of what would happen next. My second week of school an amazing teacher pulled me aside after class and asked if I would go to the student assistance center for some testing. I was not sure what he expected to find but I went. My life has never been the same. For the first time in my life someone validated me. I was not stupid! I was ecstatic! I made some very simple changes to the way I did things and 4 years later graduated with a 3.8 GPA. I was hopeful and full of promise, I really could be a doctor! I had moved onto and fell in love with psychology at that point and was going to become a psychiatrist. Life of course had different plans, but I still want it and the difference is I know I could do it.
Do you have a child that struggles? I beg you to take an interest, fight for your child! Do not shoot down their hopes and dreams because a standardized test told you to. Find a better way and do not stop until you find it. To be a parent is to be so many things, but most of all it is to be an advocate for someone to young to fight their own battles yet.
