Our speaker on a rainy winter Wednesday was Jeff Holsclaw, a captain in the Navy Reserve, who works for an Arsenal contractor with MLD member Adrienne Walls-Bruner. Jeff describes himself as a Christian, Father, husband, employee, naval reserve officer� and as a dyslexic who is happy with his life. Jeff talked about his experiences living with dyslexia, making us laugh and think. (Listening to him talk with humor and animation, in his crisp Navy uniform I wished our kids could hear him talk.)
Jeff�s first memory of trouble in school came in the second grade when he realized his papers didn�t have enough �smiley faces� on them and instead of taking them home he stuffed his papers into his desk. In a conference with his mother, the teacher said he was �a little slow�. In third grade Jeff�s family moved to Decatur from Indiana and someone mentioned dyslexia to his parents. Jeff went to a Dyslexia Center on Banks street in Decatur in the mid 1970�s.
Jeff�s good memory, ability to work with his hands, his creativity all helped him handle his inability to work with words and numbers. He said he never truly mastered multiplication until high school and that overcoming his learning hurdles really came with age. Reading out loud in class or in church made Jeff nervous. �Nervous, a racing mind and being dyslexic don�t mix� but he now appreciates that he was required to read out loud.
Jeff earned an associates degree in electronics school in Birmingham, has a Bachelor�s of Science degree in Science Management Technology, an MBA and is working on a second, specialized MBA online. Jeff now reads for pleasure although he says it still takes him longer to work with written material.
Jeff told us to NEVER give up on our child. Helping them to succeed is for the long haul, not just elementary school. Motivation for our kids plays a large part in their adult lives. Have the �patience of Job� when dealing with your child, Jeff advised. Get help for your child if you are too frustrated to work with them. �If you can�t be patient with them pay someone to be patient�
Jeff urged us not to settle for a mediocre performance from our kids. �Find what works for them and do it. Find the key, whether it is flash cards, highlighters, electronic dictionaries.� Keep it interesting.
Jeff suggested that our kids continue learning during summer, whether is it dyslexia tutoring, an actual summer school class, some music lessons or other activity was important for him. That work he said will further prepare our kids for the next year. He urged us to continue to have our kids write in the summer, even if it is just a paragraph, to keep their skills up.
�Brag on their strong points. Teach them that a good attitude and a good work ethic will go very far in having a good career. Teach them they can do whatever they set out to do,� Jeff said.
Jeff said it is really important for us to teach our children what true success in life really is. �Relay to them that true success is not your GPA, salary, home, car, bank account. A truly successful life comes from a person who is loving, has a joyful heart, a heart moved to action against wrong.�
Jeff ended his comments with this thought �You are on a great adventure.�
Thanks Jeff, for taking the time out of your work day and special Reserve training to come and speak to us! We really appreciate it.