My Dyslexia Story: Rebecca Harrison-Ruddock

Diagnosis and early awareness

I always struggled to read, but for a long time I could hide it quite well. It wasn’t until I reached Year 3 that it became obvious, and I was diagnosed as dyslexic. My parents didn’t tell me at the time, which I now think was a good thing, as it allowed me to just get on with learning without feeling labelled too young.

For years I struggled with schoolwork and often tried to cover up my difficulties. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve had a real lightbulb moment. Through teaching, I’ve realised that dyslexia is also my superpower. It gives me empathy, creativity, and a different way of thinking, and I now try to use that to support others.

Challenges and strengths

Dyslexia has shaped my life in many ways. The challenges were often around confidence, feeling like I had to work harder just to keep up, finding ways to cover up mistakes, and carrying self-doubt when I compared myself to others.

But it’s also given me strengths. I’ve learnt resilience, creativity, and I often see the bigger picture when others get lost in the detail. Dyslexia pushes me to think differently and problem-solve in imaginative ways. Most importantly, it’s given me empathy. As a teacher, I can now use those strengths to support others and show them that their dyslexia isn’t a weakness, but a unique way of seeing the world.

Support and what helped

The support that made the biggest difference to me wasn’t always about fancy strategies or specialist help, it was the people who believed in me. I remember certain teachers who, instead of pointing out what I couldn’t do, gave me the time and space to find my own way. Even small things, like letting me explain an idea out loud rather than always writing it down, made me feel capable. Those moments stuck with me because they showed me I wasn’t stupid, I just learned differently.

At home, my parents didn’t make dyslexia into a big label. They supported me quietly in the background, encouraging me to try hard but never making me feel like I was broken. Looking back, that gave me a kind of resilience. I knew I had to find my own ways of working things out.

Friends also made a difference in subtle ways - the ones who didn’t laugh when I stumbled reading aloud, or who were patient when I needed things explained again. That kind of kindness is powerful when you’re young and already battling with self-confidence.

Now, as a teacher, I see how much workplace support matters too. What helps most is patience and flexibility. Colleagues who value my creativity and big-picture thinking remind me that dyslexia isn’t something to hide – it’s a different way of seeing the world.

The truth is, the best support has always come from people who see me first and the dyslexia second. That has shaped how I try to support my own students today.

Achievements and milestones

I have lots of proud moments - some of them are the smallest sparks, and some of them are huge milestones. At school I was told by teachers that I would never be anything, and those words stayed with me. Instead of giving up, I worked and worked until I achieved my degree and my teaching qualification. It wasn’t always easy, but with determination and the support of people who saw my potential - I kept going in my own time and at my own pace.

Since then, I’ve taught for years, and some of my proudest moments are seeing those same sparks in my own students - the moment they realise they can achieve in their own way. Those moments keep me going. I’ve also built a small business where I sell my own artwork. Through this, I’ve had the opportunity to work with other businesses, designing logos, stationery, bespoke artwork, and even wallpaper murals. That side of my journey feels just as important, because it proves that dyslexia doesn’t limit creativity - if anything, it feeds it.

The confidence I’ve built over time eventually gave me the courage to write my book about GCSEs and dyslexia. That was something I never thought I’d achieve, and yet it’s turned into one of my proudest accomplishments. For me, it shows that the very thing I once thought would hold me back is now what drives me forward.

Advice to others

If you’ve just found out you have dyslexia, the first thing I’d say is: don’t see it as a weakness. It might feel overwhelming at first, but it’s not something that defines what you can’t do, it’s part of what makes you unique. You’ll have challenges, yes, but you’ll also discover strengths that other people don’t have.

Don’t ever use dyslexia as an excuse. Instead, see it as a tool to navigate your own way of thinking. Everyone learns differently, and this is just your way. Give yourself time to find the strategies that work for you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help - the right support makes all the difference.

Most importantly, don’t stop yourself from putting yourself forward for opportunities, even if they feel scary or challenging. Dyslexia doesn’t mean you can’t do it, it just means you may take a different route to get there. And often, that different route is where your creativity, resilience, and big-picture thinking shine through.

Reflections and message

What I’d like to share is that dyslexia has been a journey of acceptance. For years I saw it only as a challenge, something to hide, something that made me “less”. But over time, especially through teaching and creating, I’ve realised it’s part of what makes me who I am.

Dyslexia has given me resilience, empathy, and creativity. It’s shaped my teaching, my small business, and even my book. The very thing I once thought would hold me back has actually become the thing that drives me forward.

Looking ahead, I would love to become a dyslexia mentor. My hope is to help others build their self-esteem, discover their strengths, and see their true potential. Dyslexia is not the end of the story – it’s the beginning of a different way of seeing the world. And that difference is powerful.