What's Your Story?

 

Here at Rugby School Thailand, we all have a unique story to tell. What’s Your Story?

The theme for this year’s Dyslexia Awareness campaign asks us each to think about how our stories are different - showcasing the diversity of the dyslexic community and how everyone experiences dyslexia differently. 

Did you know that 20% of the population is believed to be dyslexic? This means that over a hundred of us here at Rugby School Thailand (staff, students, and parents) could be. That’s a lot of stories to tell! Acknowledging Dyslexia Awareness this month is a time to think about the importance of early identification and intervention, so that everyone with dyslexia has the tools to write their story. It’s also so important to remember it’s never too late to change your story and get the ending you want.

Embracing our learner profile quality of resilience, students with dyslexia don’t let their challenges get in their way and often show grit in accomplishing their goals. In 'The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain' by Eide and Eide (2024), the pioneer of space tourism, Richard Branson, discusses how despite his struggles in school, and what many viewed as repeated failures, he ultimately was very successful in his ventures.  

People with dyslexia have an ability to ‘think outside the box’ that allows them to be great problem-solvers - like Albert Einstein and Leonardo da Vinci. Research has shown that dyslexia is a whole new way of thinking. Dyslexic brains are wired differently; so people are able to see the world ‘multi-dimensionally’, seeing the big picture and how all the pieces come together. This strength of visualizing allows them to excel in the creative arts, sports, music and engineering. One of the favourite books in our Prep library - 'A Walk in the Words' by Hudson Talbot - tells how Hudson’s love of stories gave him the motivation to never give up until he was able to write and draw stories for others to love.

Students with dyslexia are instinctively investigative and inquisitive, another learning characteristic we embrace and promote at RST. Christopher Columbus was a great explorer who showed dyslexic characteristics. 

With our core ethos of ‘The Whole Person, The Whole Point’, we seek to build upon these strengths while developing the skills all of our students need to be successful.

In 'Dyslexia is My Superpower (Most of the Time)', over 100 students tell their stories of how they thrived in school and life. This week, and beyond, we are asking our community to tell us their stories. Our students and teachers will be answering the prompt, “What’s Your Story?” and we will be sharing them with our community.  If you have a story to share, please contact us directly via this link to tell it!

For more information about dyslexia and Dyslexia Awareness Month, you may access our support website at RST Support for Learning, where we are building a directory of resources for students and parents.

Nessy is offering a free course to parents this month called “Understanding Dyslexia”, you can sign up and access many other free resources on their website.

Want to know more? Here is some recommended reading:

Eide, Brock and Fernette Eide. (2024) The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain, New York: Plume, Penguin Random House.

Article written by Lissa Mason, Head of Learning Support, Senior School