Overcoming Dyslexia, Finding Passion: Piper Otterbein at TEDxYouth@CEHS

Piper Otterbein is a senior at Cape Elizabeth High School. Piper was born in New York, but she has lived in Cape Elizabeth for the past eleven years. When Piper was in first grade, she was diagnosed with a learning disability. While Piper struggled throughout elementary school, it was not until 7th grade that this disability was identified as dyslexia. Piper and her family spent a great deal of time and resources trying to fix her dyslexia; during her middle school years, Piper spent countless hours after school in tutoring programs. Although she was determined to be successful in school, work took a long time to complete, and she frequently found herself frustrated and exhausted. When Piper entered high school, she had a revelation; rather than focusing all of her energy on the challenges in her life, she decided to alter her outlook and focus instead on her strengths. While she remained a conscientious student, Piper threw herself into what she loved most: the arts, event organizing, and community involvement. Today, Piper has a strong presence in the CEHS community. She juggles painting, ceramics, and drawing with her involvement in student council, SEED, the planning of the TEDx youth conference at CEHS, and her part-time jobs working in a furniture store and babysitting. All of Piper's talent and hard work has paid off; next fall, she will be attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she will study interior design and accessory design.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[AllenWeinstein]

Beautifully said. I can definitely relate. I am 80 years old and when I was in school dyslexia was practically unheard of. I was called stupid and was told I was never going to succeed. I went from not knowing how to read until I was 13 years old to becoming a self-made multi-millionaire and published author. Living proof that everything is possible when you believe in yourself and block negativity from others out of your life. Happy Holidays!

[chrispaladin]

You were lucky to u know it early.I failed college and got sacked still not knowing i was dyslexic.Told my parents and they were like wtf is this.I am having a second try at college cause i need a degree.With a brother who has a 100% scholarship to doing his Masters and PHD in an IV league school, u can imagine how it feels.I'm in my 20's but still read like a grade 2.I will get my degree in IT next year God willing and im not going to let this stop me.

[DyslexiaConnect]

It's wonderful to hear dyslexic individuals share their stories, and create more awareness about dyslexia.

[jessiefisher]

I used to nanny for Piper and her brothers, but Piper really did all the work. I am just seeing this talk now, but I'm bursting with pride because I never knew this was something she was going through. She's an exceptional young lady with an artistic gift. Way to go Piper!

[itsme_mrsdoe]

This really made me tear up as I listened to her experience. I thought about my daughter and how in second grade she's already showing signs of discouragement. At the end I smiled realizing how much she is good at...I need to place emphasis on that!

[jason.lackey]

Only a dyslexic could truly appreciate the beauty of this speech. I have so many painful memories of childhood similar to the stories told which came flooding back. It wasn't until mid-20s when I realized it was a gift, not a disorder, because I think so differently than my peers. Now that I know who I am, I wouldn't change anything if I could.

[Irishflute]

Amazing. Piper was in my English Composition class this fall at SCAD, and I had no idea she was dyslexic. She worked hard everyday and did really well. Though she may be still struggling with this, it doesn't show. 

[vonbeine]

Thank you very much for this! I've struggled my entire life with dyslexia and hearing stories of people finding their strengths is always inspiration to me. Throughout my youth I was never told specifically that I had dyslexia, just that I was simply slower in certain tasks than other students and I constantly felt inferior. Much like this young lady I was shoved in classes for children with difficulties learning in a traditional fashion and again I felt inferior. Just recently, within the past few months I started looking for a solution to my spelling and reading difficulties, and I found with overwhelming evidence that I am dyslexic. I understand how embarrassing and humiliating it can be dyslexic in a world filled with text. What prompted me to find and watch this video was that, today at work I was handing out ID badges to a group of school children that were taking a tour of my work. I work security at a power plant and my job is access control. today at work I had an extremely humbling experience, as I was struggling to read names off a list and hand ID badges to a group of fourth grade students on a school bus. One of the students peering over the seat closest to me was reading the names and telling me who the badge belong to. The child was just trying to be helpful and my embarrassment wasn't his intention, it was just an eye opening experience that a 4th grader was reading better than I was. Usually in this situation I would try to make a joke after reading a name incorrectly or terribly mispronouncing something, I would say something along the lines of I'm not in security because I'm so smart. But during this situation I was simply speechless, all I wanted to do was finish that task and get away from that school bus. But even in light of that, watching this video made me feel almost instantly better, knowing that there were people out there that I actually understood how I feel and understand the way that I think. Most of my life I felt alone and completely inferior other people "normal people" when it came to everyday tasks like reading and writing, but knowing that there are other people out there like me constantly finding their place in life makes me happy. All of this will give me more drive to find the place that I belong and the skills that I excel at! thank you so much for assembling this talk!!!

[keg_gamer]

I struggle with dyslexia, and all special ed teachers that I have meet have been the worst people I have ever met, I have cried my self to sleep and I crude in the morning even the thought of going to school made be want to cry, I was in 2 grade, I prayed to god that I would get so sick that I would miss school. Even to say In middle school I hate having to stand up and walk to a different room just to get a "little bit" more help

[hannahsmith]

When I heard this story. I cry. My life in 7 min

[wagoner]

i'm too have dyslexia!! this story is awesome! i wish there's more people going out and doing what i you did. Embrace our secret ability (dyslexia) and fight the powers against us with your Talents ... stay strong brother and sister !!

[tracyd]

It makes me really really happy hearing your story! I have dyslexia as well and I just finished my internship as an engineer architect. although you and me have 'overcome' somehow this disability. We learned to see our strengths and we focus on that... And slowly (after high school) we sort off manage to deal with it. But there is one really important 'side-effect' of have and dealing with dyslexia that isn't always told... Already from a really young age you are confronted to be 'different' and you noticed you have to work twice as hard for less result which makes you (me) really angry, frustrated, ... It makes your confidence in such a way that it is sometimes really hard to stand up for yourself and be able and trust yourself. So besides 'overcome' the actual 'disability' (reading, writing) I've discovered that its 'side-effect' namely the lack and damage of your self-confidence is for me now a bigger/new challenge...
At a really young age you're developing a 'self-image' of you and others... For me struggling with dyslexia it seems to be hard value me equal to others... because you are having a hard time reading/writing and seeing students of your ages just 'playing with words' and enjoying reading made it hard for me to not lowering me down towards them... And our education is built that way as well by using "grated" to evaluate students and their results.
So after hard work I was able to graduate as an engineer architect and now I somehow know to handle the actual 'disability'. But I still have to fight towards all those years I've learned the lower my 'self confidence' and the way you've looked at yourself... It seems so hard to "love yourself" unconditionally... And that's were it all starts 'loving yourself' to built up relationships, friendships, ... It seems sometimes really really hard to receive/accept/feel love from others because I don't seem how to handle that because it seems so hard to give it to yourself unconditionally (instead you're used to be frustrated, sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed, ... with yourself).  
All I want to say... it is so much more than only 'reading/writing'... allowing yourself to deserve to be loved, especially by yourself!!! You're okay just the way you are!
I'd wished I said that sentence every single day of elementary school and high school instead of repeating spelling my words for the 50th time before a test.
I would probably came as far as I'm right now but with the power of the feeling "I'm okay no matter what" and especially be able to truly receive loveliness and kindness from yourself and others!  
Good luck! I encourage everyone to NO GIVE UP on yourself!! We are not stupid, lazy or whatever... We are just creative with our brains and we're as awesome as everyone else!    

[ninjanerdstudent]

I think a lot of people forget what the purpose of school is. The purpose is for a better life for oneself; the purpose is not to be compared with random people around you.

[CC-qjgh]

I have dyslexia and I can relate to everything she said! I have found the thing that I am most passionate about and that is helping people I am a disability support worker.

[EleanorThorne]

Piper - as the mom of a HS Sr who has been through this... I cried. Thanks for being so honest and brave. It can be done, it takes courage and determination.

[michellegreene]

Hi Piper, I just wanted you to know what an inspiration you are to my 11 year old daughter Payton. She has watched this video so many times. I have also shared this with many of her teachers you really make us all understand what you & Payton struggle with. She has Dyslexia & Dyscalculia too. Thank you!!!! Your a true inspiration to all of us!!

[nataliewatson]

I just wanted to say that I heard your description of the struggle it is to write a card to someone, and was overjoyed! That is the exact same process I have to go through every time someone has a birthday, or Christmas comes around, or when ever I need to write something that everyone else does without thinking.I told my friend about you, and she looked at me like I was mad! It was so lovely to hear that I am not alone! Keep going, Best of luck! x

[oliviahigh]

Piper you are amazing! I too am dyslexic and know how hard it is to battle through primary education where you are made to feel dumb if you can't cite off your times tables or spell simple words. I am now a second year university student studying neuroscience and i hope to one day change the education system so no child with dyslexia is made to feel dumb, incapable, inadequate, unsupported or misunderstood at school ever again!

[CharlieBrawl]

I got to my second year of University before I found out I was Dyslexic, even then I only found out because my identical twin sister flunked out of her university course and was recommended for testing. If it wasn't for my sister I may never of realised because my symptoms were so well hidden. My dyslexia has small implications on my writing and more of an impact on my short term memory, my memory is in the bottom 5% of the population.

Unfortunately the whole episode threw me in to a deep depression and my grades suffered and I graduated with a 2:2, but I have a degree so I can be happy overall.

[lilannie]

People really are amazing! Thank you Piper and TEDxYOUTH for sharing with the world such a moving and inspirational experience