What Inspired Me to Return to Learning
By Grace S., An Adult Student at DRC
When I graduated from high school, most people would have been excited—but I was full of fear, even though I was happy to be done with schoolwork. During my last week of high school, my parents and I were in the kitchen talking about how my final day was coming up. They were excited and proud that I was finally finishing school. I didn’t match their excitement at all.
As I sat at the counter, tears started flowing like a river. My parents were confused because I had talked for years about how much I disliked school and how badly I wanted it to be over. They also knew how much of a struggle learning had been for me. What scared me most was my future. I worried about career options, knowing I was far behind my peers educationally and that learning had always been extremely difficult for me. I also feared everyday adult tasks that require strong math and spelling skills.
I worked throughout high school, but even starting a job was overwhelming. During orientation and training modules, I felt completely defeated. I remember leaving orientation with tears streaming down my face, thinking, “There is no way I will ever be able to work here. I can’t even get through the learning part.” I cried the entire drive home. Although I had some amazing people who supported me, nothing about it was easy.
When I left high school, I was years behind my peers academically. College didn’t feel like an option for me at all. People who didn’t know about my learning disability would ask why I wasn’t going to college and say things like, “Just try it—you have so much potential,” or “That really surprises me.” I would receive job opportunities but pass them up again and again because of my learning challenges.
Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep struggling like this. As adult life became more demanding, I knew I needed help—not only so I wouldn’t have to keep turning down opportunities, but so I could better myself overall. I went on Google searching for something—anything—that could help me overcome my learning challenges. That’s when I found DRC.
I thought about reaching out for a couple of months before making the call. I was nervous and unsure if the program would even be right for me. I also knew I would have to tell a complete stranger about my biggest struggles and insecurities. After the call, I went home and told my mom about it, and she agreed that getting help was the right step. I made an appointment for a consultation.
After the consultation and assessments, I knew this was the right choice. I began working with a tutor, and for the first time, I was learning and understanding things I never thought I could. Memorization had always been one of my biggest challenges. I could never memorize multiplication facts—until I was taught using multiplication stories. That was the moment the light bulb finally turned on. It didn’t feel so dark anymore. There was hope.
If you’re an adult who struggles with learning challenges that affect daily life—especially work life—I highly encourage you to do your research and reach out for help. Taking that step can truly change your life. I know it changed mine, and I have no regrets.