06/16/2026
Every child deserves an opportunity!
A BIG congratulations to you Andrew Booth👏🏻
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MUST READ: Magee student shares his dyslexia story.
Huge congratulations to 6th grader Andrew Booth from Magee Middle School for winning our literacy scholarship contest! His moving essay reminds us exactly why every child deserves a chance to learn and thrive.
“Why Literacy Matters in My Life and Community”
By: Andrew Booth
Magee Middle School, 6th Grade
Literacy matters in my life because it affects everything I do, from school to my confidence and my future. I am an 11-year-old 6th-grade student at Magee Middle School, and I have dyslexia. Dyslexia makes reading harder for me, especially reading fluently. Even though I try my best, reading does not come easily. Because of this, literacy is not just about books or grades to me. It is about being understood, supported, and given a fair chance to succeed.
Growing up with dyslexia has been challenging. I often have to work twice as hard as other students just to keep up. Sometimes I read slower, mix up letters, or struggle to understand what I read the first time. These struggles have made school feel overwhelming at times. I have also been bullied by other students who do not understand dyslexia. Being laughed at or made to feel different hurts, and it can make learning even harder. What hurts even more is when adults, including teachers, tell me what I will not be able to do in life because they think I am not capable. Those words stay with you, especially when you are a kid.
Even with these challenges, my parents never gave up on me. They work very hard to help me succeed and searched for dyslexia therapy to help me learn better ways to read. Dyslexia therapy has helped me understand that my brain just learns differently, not worse. It has shown me that I am smart and capable, even if I learn in a different way. Literacy matters to me because it gives me confidence and helps me believe in myself.
However, my community is failing students like me. There are no dyslexia therapy programs available here. Families have to travel far or pay a lot of money to get help, and not everyone can do that. This means many kids with dyslexia are struggling in silence. Without proper support, students may fall behind, lose confidence, or start to believe they are not smart. Literacy should be something that brings people up, not something that leaves them behind.
Literacy also matters to my community because strong readers become strong leaders. When people can read and understand information, they can make better decisions, get better jobs, and help improve their community. If students with learning differences are ignored, the community loses talented people who could do amazing things if given the right support.
In my life, literacy represents hope. It represents a future where I am not judged by how fast I read but by how hard I try and what I know. I want my community to understand that dyslexia does not mean failure. With support, patience, and access to proper programs, students like me can succeed. Literacy matters because everyone deserves the chance to learn, grow, and be believed in.”
