My name is Anna, and I was diagnosed with NVLD when I was 12 years old. I had a hard time keeping up with schoolwork, staying organized, daydreaming, and most noticeably, social interactions with my peers. I was very anxious and depressed during that time of my life, and one of my teachers noticed and helped my parents find the right resources to help me keep up with the other students. I ended up switching to a school with a learning resource center and was able to use amenities like extra time on tests, a quiet space, and someone to make sure I wrote down my homework assignments and that I had my books before I went home.
It took me a while to feel okay about using these resources, but I am so glad I got the help I needed as a child. I ended up flourishing by the time I reached high school. I found friends who liked me for all my odd quirks, and I had teachers that were very understanding and helped me reach my potential. I am now 30 years old, married with a child on the way, and I have two bachelor degrees and a masters in nursing. I am now a mental health nurse practitioner and I try to help kids the same way I was helped when I was their age. I am more aware of differences in the way I think and interpret things compared to those around me, but I have learned to adapt and have found coping strategies that have led me to where I am today.
Anna
I enjoy traveling and am a Francophile. I love dogs (particularly dachshunds) and I enjoy running outside and playing video games. I like to read and write, and I have the same sense of humor as my 13 year old nephew. Sometimes jokes go right over my head and I struggle with sarcasm, but I take it in stride and laugh when I miss something.
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