In 1991 I started my first year of university. It was a scary time for me as most students are leaving home for the first time. They set me up with general courses, as well as an education course, since that was what I was specializing in at the time. I also took a psychology class.

The psychology professor was a big man who tended to go so fast that things went in one ear and out the other. Since he had a learning disability, this was not good. I spent more time reading and getting notes from other students, but the worst part of the course was the tests. The professor used to cover 3 or 4 chapters and then he would have a test. I was doing well on regular assignments but not on tests.

So, the thought occurred to me that maybe he would be willing to give me the test orally instead of written. After class one night, I went up to him and asked if he minded. He said that he didn’t care and we set a time and a day. I spent the next day studying as hard as I thought possible so that when night came I would feel ready for the test.

That night I went to his office and took the test orally. I did it wrong, and he suggested that I drop the course right then because my grade was so bad. I asked him to let me take it written the next day when all the other students took it. He said it was fine. So, I spent that afternoon and the whole of the next day studying for that test. He was determined to prove him wrong and show that he could do it.

The next night I went for the test and felt even more prepared than when I did the oral test. For some reason the answers seem to be easier for me. When I walked out of that room after the exam, I walked away with a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

As a person with learning disabilities, I needed to have the courage to continue, the determination to prove to myself and others that I could do anything I set my mind to, and also the confidence in myself. Without these things, I would never have scored a 105 on the exam and passed the course with a B+.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is this: don’t give up, no matter what. You just need to keep telling yourself, “I can do this.” The more you tell yourself this, the more you will begin to believe it. And more you will do.