One of the drawbacks I have faced in life is the “wall syndrome”; when you come to a wall, you stop and don’t get to the other side, at least for a long time or until adrenaline panic push somehow gets you over or through or around the wall. I have had this experience in study at tertiary level trying to do assignments or study for exams, in relationships, in business decisions and in many other aspects of my life that required a decision. Study courses on decision making are helpful, but they don’t necessarily give you the capacity to make decisions, but once you develop the capacity to make decisions, these courses can be spectacular.

I feel that I am in the position now to deal with issues of decision making as well as issues involving auditory and visual memory in a way that was not possible before. When I look back on my life and recognize how I have been held back by cognitive issues, I resonate with Barbara Arrowsmith Young’s dream to make the Arrowsmith program available to all children at Elementary school so that they avoid the obstacles as well as the accompanying emotional and social issues.

Maybe we all need to buy lottery tickets in the name of Arrowsmith School. Or better yet, find cooperative, enthusiastic governments and maybe even private enterprise.

At the moment, the things that are much closer to now that I really want to do first and foremost is graduating high school. It just wasn’t going to happen before coming here and now I’m pretty sure I can do it. I’ll be sure to send you guys a photo of my little certificate in two years. I never expected I could be so excited about school, but I genuinely cannot wait to prove myself that I can do it. I’m pretty sure I can. The next thing after that is I want to go to University in Scotland.

I want to be a nurse but Dyslexia was getting in my way then I came to Arrowsmith and it got easier and easier to accomplish my dream of being a nurse. I want to be a nurse because I want to help people, it’s my dream to be a nurse and Arrowsmith has helped me accomplish it. Thank you Arrowsmith. The end! 
-Student, 10, Arrowsmith School Peterborough

When I was a kid I’ve always wondered: why do planes fly, what is space and why are we here, what is it like to fly. It was an ongoing thought in my brain that kept running in a cycle. Every plane I saw, heard, and flew in, I was in love. The thrill, existence, time, speed and the unknown is what drives me to this day. But there is something in the way. The two letters L.D. Ever since I was a kid I had a learning issue, behavioural issue and social issues as well. School was simply impossible for me. No one understands me, I didn’t understand them, and they did not know what was wrong with me. Throughout the years I was put in special tutor to help me, which helped me a bit, but not in everything. Throughout time I did improve and get into high school. I’ve always enjoyed it at high school, but not my marks so much. I would spend nights saying to myself why can’t I memorize a single thing from math. Throughout high school I lived with the pain. I was afraid about talking about my marks. I felt embarrassed and different. But then the day came when I go to go to Arrowsmith. After I found out that I had a few issues that really effected learning in school that was when I knew I would fit in. 

Throughout the year I went to Arrowsmith and did many exercises, which were hard but worth it in the end. By the end of the year I saw many changes. I’ve started to notice that reading and writing has improved a lot. I was able to write a topic faster and not have any mistakes that I had before. I am able to read a passage much more quickly without needing to stop. The next thing I noticed was my social life, that I am more appropriate around people. I can have long talks with people and be socially acceptable. Somehow I feel like this is something in my brain that goes off now before doing something that might seem off to people. I noticed my reaction time is much better. If I would stop something I would be able to get back to it quicker than before. The biggest change I’ve noticed is in learning material. I am able to use info in my head and not forget it. I can sit down and study without being distracted. Things just simply seem better.

Now you are probably wondering what this relates to. That is, in being a pilot. All of the training, learning, and multitasking required all relates to the 19 areas of learning. If it wasn’t for Arrowsmith I probably wouldn’t have gotten closer to my dream. But it is not a dream anymore, its reality. I have already started my flight training and it is going well for me.

The Arrowsmith program has allowed me to dream big, and there are a couple of things that are my dreams like my career or my future school or getting better at every day stuff, like homework.

My career when I get older I want to go to Med School because my dream job is to be a surgeon, and this school has opened up this possibility.

The Arrowsmith Program helped me in a big way because now as I get older I can accomplish things and dare to dream. I can read and understand humor and can have better conversations with my friends. When I get older I want to travel and go to college to become a teacher, get married, and have a family. And I will have a great life. I can have those dreams now because I am confident and I can read my level of reading. Before I did not know who I was and I had trouble with friends bullying me. 

I can stand up to them because I can understand where they are coming from. And I don’t care what they think about me. All that matters is that I care about myself. Now I can stand up to them now. Arrowsmith has given me these tools that I needed to be able to achieve my dreams.

Now that I am in the Arrowsmith Program, I feel that now I can have a family after high school, go to college or university. Now I Dare to Dream because my self-esteem is better and I am more confident in myself. When I grow up I think I want to be a Dance Instructor, Baker or a Teacher.

I have noticed a lot of positive improvement in my cognitive abilities. Because of tracing and word writing is a much more pleasant experience. My grip is much softer and my writing much clearer and more consistent for me to read and others. I also noticed more sensitivity in my hand grip all together. Touch in my hands is more sensitive and my motor movements are more subtle and precise. I notice this when I play guitar, hold object such as keys and try and open the door or even holding dishes while I wash the dishes. Predicative and phrases have really enhanced my cognitive abilities. I can now sit in a conversation with one or many parts and be present and engaged to every word they are saying mostly. This is something I had great difficulties in.

Following instructions and holding information in my head has improved drastically. My ability to be in a loud environment such as a coffee shop or a bus is so much better. Auditory stimulation does not tire me out as much as it used to and I can now go back to a task also after I’ve been engaged in conversation more easily. Watching TV, movies, Documentaries is a pleasure now. Auditory talks and speeches are not a strain. I have noticed that I remember words to a song much quicker. My memory for street names and directions has improved and the anxiety around remembering information is much better. Understanding different accents is also better.

I have more passions and more awareness that things are a process and take time. I can see the improvements that time and practise give me now that I don’t feel constantly over stimulated, and When my nerves are not aggravated from trying to stay focused I can achieve things that are really difficult cognitively or being over stimulated in all my senses then I’m able to be in my higher self and not in my limited self. This is ultimately my greatest wish.