Brilliant, Just in a Different Way

Brilliant, Just in a Different Way (And You Probably Are Too!)

Growing up, school was a battlefield. At eight years old, I was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities. I vividly remember the sheer terror of being called on to read aloud in class, the desperate (and often disruptive) attempts to avoid the spotlight and hide what felt like my biggest secret: I couldn't keep up. Throughout my K-12 years, I consistently tested in the bottom 20% on standardized tests. The message was loud and clear: "You're not good enough." I finished high school carrying a backpack overflowing with negative labels and a dangerously low sense of self-worth.

But here's the thing: labels can be deceiving.

Fortunately, I had an unwavering champion in my corner: my mother. After every bad grade or failed exam, she'd look me straight in the eye and say, "You're brilliant, just in a different way." I must have heard that line a thousand times throughout my adolescence, delivered with the unshakable confidence of a heavyweight champion. And guess what? Eventually, I started to believe her.

That belief fueled me to try college, and I'm so glad it did. I've since earned my bachelor's degree and an MBA from Hamline University. As of this book’s publication, I am now a doctoral candidate in the final stages of defending my dissertation and graduating shortly.

Along the way, I've learned a powerful truth: Everything I've accomplished is because of a positive voice in the background – a voice that believed in me, even when I doubted myself.

Think about it: How many of us have felt like the kid who fidgeted in the waiting room, overwhelmed and misunderstood? If you'd told my younger self that I'd one day earn a PhD, I would have laughed. How could someone who struggled to decipher the words on a page achieve something like that?

Yet, standing on that graduation stage, diploma in hand, I knew exactly who to thank: the woman beaming in the audience. Because of my mother, and the many others who saw my potential.

Yes, hard work is crucial, but so is the unwavering support of those who encourage us to embrace our unique selves. And that's where things get really interesting.

Let's talk about neurodiversity for a moment. It's a term you might have heard, and it's incredibly important. Neurodiversity acknowledges that neurological differences – like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others – are natural variations in the human brain. It's not about deficits; it's about different ways of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world.

Here's where the statistics come in, and they might surprise you:

• ADHD: Estimates suggest that around 8.7% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD. That's a significant portion of the population whose brains are wired to be creative, hyper-focused (on things they're passionate about), and full of energy.
• Dyslexia: It's believed that dyslexia affects up to 20% of the population. Imagine a world where 1 in 5 people process written information differently!
• Autism: The CDC estimates that about 1 in 36 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These individuals often possess incredible strengths in pattern recognition, logical thinking, and attention to detail.

These are just a few examples, and the reality is that neurodiversity is far more common than many people realize.

The old way of thinking about intelligence was very narrow, focusing on standardized tests and conformity. But the truth is, there are so many ways to be smart, talented, and successful.

All of us are unique. We are all different. No two people learn the same, think the same, or feel the same. Whether you’ve been given the label of neurodivergent, neurotypical, dyslexic, autistic, ADHD, anxious, dysgraphic, or any other label out there, it does not define you.

Instead, use whatever makes you different to thrive. Success looks different for everyone. There is always more than one way to solve a problem, achieve a goal, or learn a skill. And when you go out into the world showcasing your uniqueness, chances are, you are inspiring someone who feels different to embrace themselves and let their light shine a little bit more.