High school can be a difficult time. Your classes and subjects are becoming more complex, your responsibilities are increasing and you’re probably having to learn how to effectively manage your time. But what about when you’re trying your hardest, but you just can’t keep up? What do you do when you’re struggling and you can’t figure out what the problem is? Could you have a learning disability and not have realized it earlier? It is possible to discover a learning disability in middle or high school. With your new responsibilities and coursework, new weaknesses may become apparent.
If you think you have a learning disability, or are struggling with school and want to try and figure out why, the first people you should talk to are your parents. It’s important to remember a learning disability is not your fault. It’s simply the way your brain works. Your parents will understand this and will help you figure out where to go from here.
Next, you should talk to your school. Your parents may want to schedule a meeting with your school and request testing. If you find out you do actually have a learning disability, you can start working with your school to get the help you need. Your grades do not have to suffer just because you have a learning disability. You just have to approach schoolwork in a different way.
You should also focus on improving your learning processes at home. Going to class is important, but plenty of learning is done outside the classroom as well, so you should make sure your studying is as effective as your time spent in class. Set specific study routines – certain days and times set aside for certain classes and subjects – and set goals for yourself. Setting small goals – finishing one chapter, writing one page of your paper, getting through a small amount of flash cards, etc. – is a great way to hold yourself accountable and study without overwhelming yourself.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers and your parents are there to help you. Remember, they’ve gone through school too, and they’ve most likely been in a position where they had to ask for help once as well. Everyone has. Recognizing your disability and deciding to work with it, instead of letting it bring you down, is the smart thing to do.
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