Annalysa describes her early school experience as “being in a fog,” struggling to recognize and understand symbols. She saw books as roadblocks and barriers to learning. In second grade a Learning Specialist identified Annalysa’s fog as dyslexia and set her up with Learning Ally. She describes how suddenly she could focus and understood the meaning behind the words. “It completely changed my life. Before I found Learning Ally, reading was always, “I can't. I can't. I can't.” The first audiobook I read was my first ‘”I can!" I had ever felt. I was like a superhero that had just suddenly discovered their power and abilities.” She came to accept that her brain didn’t respond to traditional classroom teaching, and she needed assistance to absorb the material. Annalysa now sees the positive aspects of being dyslexic, believing that her dyslexia makes her work harder, be less fearful of trying new things, improves her ability to solve problems, and to be exceptionally creative.
Annalysa will graduate from high school this year with a 3.9 GPA and has received a scholarship to attend Flagler College in Florida to study Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. “I want to help individual students recognize their challenges and differences as strengths that can inspire their personal growth and achievements.”