Be My Own Lawyer“Oh my God, Lauren, I can't believe my eyes!” That's all I heard ringing in my ears when my parents opened my report card. You see, being dyslexic, I always needed to work harder, and I did so successfully until I started high school. I never really knew how to be my own advocate; my parents were always there for me. I grew up with private tutors and learning programs my entire life. Being gifted, I was able to compensate until high school. I know we were both overwhelmed when I received my first C on my report card. I kept asking myself over and over, how did this happen? I knew I learned differently, but for some reason, things weren't going well for me academically now. Being accepted into the four-year Global Ecology Honors Magnet program was quite an accomplishment. I thought my strengths in both math and science would help me complete this rigorous academic curriculum. I was wrong! I hit a brick wall and hit it hard. Having a parent who was a special educator and also dyslexic kept me afloat; however, I needed to utilize the resources available both inside and outside of school to begin my journey to academic success. It took me until my freshman year of high school to figure out how and what I needed to do to be all that I could. I learned this the hard way on my own; it cost me admission to the National Honor Society, having been recommended to AP Biology and AP US History. I needed to start taking control of my life and set the goals needed to get back on my feet. I needed to prove to myself that wanting to pursue medicine in college was a possible dream. During my first year, I began to listen to those who loved and cared about me by organizing myself, communicating with my teachers, using all the accommodations I was entitled to, and, for the first time, taking a resource class. The last step was the hardest for me, I simply didn't know what to think; what other kids would say: "Oh, you're in the stupid class." "Why are you there?" After taking the resource course, I realized that it would help me become more organized, both in school and outside, it would help me find the necessary balance between all my lessons and all my extracurricular activities..