Against All Odds Part Two- My Son's Story: From Struggling Through School to Victory in Tech School

My son was diagnosed with a mild case of dyslexia in the 5th grade. This was quite frustrating for him because it was so mild that it was often overlooked by some of his teachers as being lazy or sloppy - and sometimes by my husband and me. We never used it as an excuse to go easy on him, but at the same time, we had to force ourselves to remember there was a valid reason he didn't enjoy reading and writing.

There were times through middle-school when things were tough, academically and emotionally. My son was picked on quite a bit. Fortunately he was just like me when I was that age. Strong. Stubborn. Opinionated. Good traits when used wisely - not so good when they get the best of you. Though there were a few mishaps and trips to the principal's office (due to him having to defend himself), he graduated with a good GPA.

Then high-school came along. By this time, my son had excelled in every hands -on class, was a slender and stocky endurance motorcycle racer, and was his father's right hand man during the summer working in construction. In this we praised him and encouraged him. The downfall was his connection in the "book" based classes. Science, Math, and English. These were definite struggles - and this is were being strong, stubborn, and opionated were used in a negative sense.

This brought times when most parents would punish their children from extra curricular activities - in our son's case it would have been riding. That would be death as far as he was concerned. My husband chose a different approach. He opted to take our son camping for the weekend. They would load up the trailer and their quads and head for the dunes. It was quite funny to see the reactions of other parents when expecting to hear our son was punished, and instead heard, "the boys went riding for the weekend."

I would have to say that was one of the wisest decisions my husband has ever made. He used that time to "hang" with his son; find out what was going on in his head. He learned that my son thought he was stupid and bound to screw up. This he thought about himself despite all the community service he did helping neighbors, all the endurance races he successfully completed, and all of the things he learned just by watching and mastering it the first time through. Amazing how we can get stuck on our weaknesses. Especially as a teenager.

This is not to say that we didn't go to other lengths to get him to complete his assignments. Because he also had mom to deal with, and mom had different ideas than dad - mom wasn't afraid to be strong, stubborn, or opinionated. He was failing biology. He didn't want to read, and above all he hated taking tests. This class was filled with tests. SO I gave him a choice. "I can either come sit in class with you everyday until you have a C, or we can come together in the morning before class. You choose". He knew better than to test me, so he opted for three days a week before class. Interestingly enough, it turned out that his biology teacher had some kind of cool street bike - a-ha! Maybe this teacher is smart after all, my son said. Once the three of us were alone, he was able to speak freely and in 5 weeks, he went from an F to a B. Amazing.

Still, he was discouraged because traditional college was not going to work for him. My husband and I looked into different accredited technical schools - little did we know "J " was doing the same thing. Before we could mention anything to him, he brought it up with us. "Hey, there's this tech school called MMI, I want to go there." "What's MMI?" " Motorcycle Mechanics Institute" he says in a tone that said, "Duh."

What a brilliant idea. He applied, was interviewed, then accepted! On the condition that he graduate and willing to take a drug test. The drug test was a no brainer, graduating was going to be a tough one - but now he had a purpose. All he talked about was MMI - and it was great! By his junior year, he was already taking dirt-bikes apart and fixing them. At any given time there was a bike or two in our garage that he was working on....

In August of 2009, we moved him to Phoenix, AZ. What a trip that was... It was wonderful to see him standing tall. All through school, he would text us. "100% on my test".... "A" in class ..."Mastered my timed test with time left over.."Dang, I only got a B this time.." On it went. Once he sent a picture of a technical manual for snowmobiles and diesel engines. It was 3 inches thick "And you thought I didn't like to read, lol" it said.

Everything he struggled through in high school - the math, the reading, and scientific measurements, he mastered in tech school because they had a purpose and practical use. My son went from a struggling student to "Student of the Course". Many parents look down on tech school. I can see it on their face and in their tone. "Oh your son is going to college? Great what field?" "Mechanics" "oh." This is when my strong, stubborn, and opinionated tongue starts to bleed for being bitten by my teeth!

Tomorrow my son will graduate Tech school with bronze and advanced certifications in Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha engines. With additional certifications in advance electrical service.

His struggle may have not have been instability as mine was, but it was a struggle of a different kind. One that took parents who were stable and willing to learn along side of his needs, and encourage his strengths instead of expecting him to be like his sister, or other kids.

If your child is struggling with traditional methods of learning, help them find what works and encourage them to go after it with gusto. There is more than one kind of brilliant.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.... which leads to my next thoughts.