‘I never see her without a book in her hands’ my teachers would always say, my parents would laugh.

Growing up, reading was not my thing. I didn’t understand it and fell behind the class quickly.

When I was in year 1, I was taken to an optometrist and given glasses. I sat close to the whiteboard so I could read what the teacher was writing, I wore my glasses constantly, but nothing helped, i was still struggling with reading. I moved to Wesley after I was diagnosed with dyslexia, things finally started to make sense. I joined a group with other people with reading difficulties, and all was well.

My parents took me to a program called Lindamood-bell; There I learnt skills to aid me with reading, and soon, I fell in love with books.

In Year 3 I read Percy Jackson and the lighting thief. At the time I didn’t want to admit it, but Rick Riordan –the author- had made me fall in love with books. I did not read nearly as much as I do now, but it started this spark for reading deep inside me. I started reading to myself instead of having someone read for me, and this was a big step for me.

In year 4 we noticed that I was struggling with multiplication. Really struggling with multiplication. So, I went to the doctor again and got a diagnosis for dyscalculia. A learning disability, those who are affected with it struggled with maths. They took me to Linda mood-bell again to work on my multiplication. I felt like I was getting better. I finished the year knowing significantly more than I had at the start. I felt more prepared to go into year 5.

In year 5 we noticed that I struggled with Chinese. Then I got diagnose with dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects how I see shapes. Covid hit. With no teachers around to check on me and guide me I found working extremely hard. I started working in an individual needs group inside Wesley and we met together to work on class work and get extra help.

Years 7-8 were very hard. I started science and started really struggling and falling behind. The individual need classes that I took part in worked on my writing and numeracy skills, and that didn’t really extend or apply to science, I was on my own. My grades weren't reflecting how hard I was trying. Because I was trying as hard as I could, yet my grades appeared seemed to be falling.

Year 9-10, things finally changed. I started getting more help when I needed it. I started asking for help. And things are much better now. I know that my skills in maths and certain areas of reading are behind my peers. But I read all the time now. people never see me without a book in my hands