Ben Walzak has learning issues. But he is a joyous kid.
For Ben, 12, leaving Schrader and moving on to Bayonet Point Middle School is bittersweet.
As a student with a learning disability he's certainly had his share of ups and downs. Still, he leaves on a high note, especially since being named district winner of the Tropicana Speech Contest in grades 3-5, the first ever from Schrader. He won for a speech he wrote on his entire elementary school experience.
"Kindergarten wasn't so good," he said, adding that in third-grade he flunked the FCAT and was held back. "I couldn't read."
He had to make a monumental decision: to stick it out in mainstream classes or go into an SLD class (Specific Learning Disabled).
He opted for SLD, which overall has been a good learning experience, one Ben has a very mature outlook on, said his teacher, Jennifer Coats.
"He's matter-of-fact about his disability," said Coats. "He already has a game plan. He knows that he has to work harder than other people."
"My mom and I have a motto," Ben said of his upbeat outlook. "Life is a garden - dig it."
Sure, it's been mostly a struggle, he said. "But look where I am now."
Summing that all up and then some might be a tall order for some, but Ben got his point across in three-minutes for the Tropicana Speech Contest. Since then, principal Mary Stelnicki has called on Ben to recite that speech for students and adults.
Ben is more than willing to share his experience with those who will listen.
"There are kids in SLD who have problems," he said. "But people think the kids in SLD are really bad kids. Since I wrote that speech I think I definitely made people think differently."
Way to go, Ben. Yes, kids with LDs have to work harder than kids without--but feeling good about yourself is your birthright. And if reading is one of your issues, I hope your mom signs you up for Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. It has made academic life easier for a lot of kids with learning issues.
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