Success Stories
Valerie Evans
Learning to Succeed – coping with dyslexia
I was fortunate to be on the pilot course delivered in Seaford. The course began shortly after my dyslexia had been identified at the age of 47. At the time I was trying to turn my life around having returned to the UK after 20 years abroad. Returning home and re adjusting wasn’t easy and I had a bad start including discovering that old qualifications (nursery nursing) weren’t recognised, work experience wasn’t transferable and proof of capability through certificates required. I knew I had to retrain. It was because both my children had been identified as dyslexic that I asked to be assessed. When I heard I was dyslexic my immediate reaction was s**t – now what do I do and rage, that I hadn’t been diagnosed in childhood. I had been labelled educationally subnormal and incapable of learning. No need to harp on about the effect of this – we have all experienced the low self esteem and lack of confidence. I was still angry when I began the Learning to Succeed course, until Nicky pointed out to me that this had made me a stronger person and put me where I was at the time.
What am I doing now all those years later? Well presently I am doing my degree in Professional Education studies at Brighton University on a part time basis. I have completed my first year achieving a high 2:2. If I can manage to do my dissertation along with next years modules, I will graduate next year. (Incidentally so will my daughter with her PGCE, so mum and daughter will be up on stage on the same day!) Nicky and I graduated together for our Cert Ed.
Presently I am a community teacher delivering Cache awarding body courses in early childhood, I also work as a tutor delivering professional development courses to ‘the vulnerable’ including recovering addicts. I have a part time job responsible for the staff development and training in large children’s setting in Hove. I mentor students who have English as a second language or are dyslexic so that they can achieve a level two qualification in early years.
The learning to succeed empowered me and helped give me back confidence, but most importantly it gave me a chance to discover my strengths and look at how I could develop myself to overcome weaknesses. I do have times when I am totally dyslexic and every thing goes wrong, however I understand this now and know to put the breaks on, give myself some time and start again.
I’m also happily re married. This is something I thought would never happen when I returned back to England. We made Shoreham Airport history by being the first couple to be married there. A setting I strongly recommend. My husband is a lovely man, presently we share our home with my son and a rescue Fox Terrier dog called Lucan. I’ve taken up the hobby of jewellery making and doing for relaxation an introduction to silversmithing. The intention being that in the long I can supplement my income when I retire.
The future looks good.