--- title: Students who learn and think differently share their New Year’s goals description: What are your child's hopes for the New Year? Get inspired by hearing what seven students who learn and think differently are setting out to achieve. slug: big-hopes-for-2016-students-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-share-their-goals author: Eye to Eye, Understood Founding Partner published: '2019-10-16T12:03:49.802Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/F7FAC6DC9F2B430AA0F707BEF54FB3B0/1101eca75ad3bdc1092228cadbef1272/Elizabeth-Bell.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/big-hopes-for-2016-students-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-share-their-goals lang: en --- # Students who learn and think differently share their New Year’s goals The New Year is a great time for kids who learn and think differently to set goals and get inspired about the future. We asked seven students in middle school through college to share their hopes for the upcoming year. The students are all part of the Eye to Eye mentoring network. Here’s what they said. *This story was originally published in 2015.* ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/F7FAC6DC9F2B430AA0F707BEF54FB3B0/1101eca75ad3bdc1092228cadbef1272/Elizabeth-Bell.jpg) ### Elizabeth Bell “I love theater and I want to be an actress. I’ve been in some productions. This year, I want to stand out more and not be in the background where people can’t see what I have to offer. I also want to be comfortable with myself and with my dyslexia.” —Elizabeth Bell, sixth grader in Ohio who has ADHD and dyslexia ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/0532F40AC4B8479CBBFF46C91A8C2131/1e74cfaac97ba481c37513782bd41dc8/Gerald-Porter.jpg) ### Gerald Porter “My biggest hope is to continue writing for campus organizations and improving my communication skills on the road to becoming a journalist. It’s sometimes hard for me to stay organized and manage my time because of my LD. To be more productive, I want to add more structure into my weekly schedule. That’ll help me keep focused on writing.” *—Gerald Porter, college sophomore at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who has a learning disability* ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/1D59740EC20B4B9BBE88DFEAF17D1F75/b8743a7d18b1c31b966612a7fe5b9500/Emily-Metzger.jpg) ### Emily Metzger “I want to expand what I know in the field of design. My hope is to finish the junior year of my graphic design degree strong. I won’t let my ADHD stop me from achieving my goals. And I’m going to share what I’ve learned with others.” —Emily Metzger, college junior at Daemen College in New York who has ADHD and auditory processing disorder ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/8E82FFAC46D94559A7A2E7E9104EA30E/2a82c1657e6fb4db1e36ae5b26706e11/Ryan-Ward.jpg) ### Ryan Ward “One of my biggest hopes is to get into the National Junior Honors Society. I also want to help people understand what [kids like me with ADHD go through](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/through-your-childs-eyes). And I want to make new friends and have fun in school!” *—Ryan Ward, seventh grader in Pennsylvania who has ADHD* ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/C2C663DFEC634192B577F9602C2F8876/25e01152898addfb2eb2f797ffc373f4/Oscar-Schrag.jpg) ### Oscar Schrag “I’ve been an Eye to Eye mentor for a few years now. My hope is to empower even more kids to [speak up and stand up for themselves](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-importance-of-self-advocacy) in the classroom. Right now, I’m interning at a museum and I think my experience with art will help. Art is an amazing way to connect with kids, especially kids in grade school. When kids work on art, they learn to be open to the idea that personal differences can be good.” *—Oscar Schrag, high school senior in California who has dyslexia* ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/5F914AE8AB5A4B1B8DF06AA54B45CCC4/ecc457b81ba416fba9c6d3685356b20b/Liam-Haller.jpg) ### Liam Haller “It will be a big transition for me, as I move from high school to college to study economics and international relations. Having dyslexia and dysgraphia, I find reading and writing to be especially tough. To help get ready for college, I’m hoping to find more kinds of assistive technology. I’m using [text-to-speech](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/text-to-speech-technology-what-it-is-and-how-it-works) right now. But I’ve started to explore other tools like the digital textbooks on Bookshare. I’m hoping to start my first semester using technology that fits my learning style.” *—Liam Haller, high school senior in New York who has dyslexia and dysgraphia* ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/73A3E319E2994F23ABD5A9F68408F630/d33be8a6506c3f4217c0c621d09097ad/Kenya-Hougen.JPG) ### Kenya Hougen “I’ll be graduating high school. My hope is that I’ll be able to start a new journey where I’m not afraid to let my learning difference shine. I know [my mind thinks differently](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/different-learning-strengths-what-you-need-to-know). And I’m going to share its creativity and joy with other people.” *—Kenya Hougen, high school senior in Colorado who has dyslexia* --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Understood launches e-zine, for/by, to amplify voices of people with learning and thinking differences ](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understood-launches-e-zine-for-by-to-amplify-voices-of-people-with-learning) - Seventy million Americans have a learning or thinking difference, like ADHD or dyslexia. Many of them are misunderstood, undiagnosed, and dismissed, with their difference viewed as a weakness. To further our mission of supporting, advocating for, and creating awareness around people who learn and th - [Financial aid and scholarships for students who learn and think differently](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/financial-aid-and-scholarships-for-students-with-learning-and-thinking-differences) - Loans and scholarships are available through federal, state, and private programs. Some financial aid programs are just for kids who learn and think differently. - [Kids with multiple learning and thinking differences: What you need to know](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/kids-with-multiple-learning-and-thinking-differences-what-you-need-to-know) - - Its common for kids to learn and think differently in more than one way. - Different challenges need different kinds of support. - Kids with multiple challenges can thrive in school and beyond. Do you wonder why even though your childs reading differences are being addressed at school, writin --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/big-hopes-for-2016-students-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-share-their-goals#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/big-hopes-for-2016-students-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-share-their-goals","description":"What are your child's hopes for the New Year? 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