It takes an incredible amount of courage to speak openly about a struggle you’ve spent your whole life trying to hide. Recently, one of our own Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust (RYALT) students did exactly that, sharing his profound and personal journey with local media channel, Stuff.
In the moving feature titled “You must be dumb: Inside one man’s lifelong struggle to read,” Gregory opened up about the heavy emotional toll of living with low literacy. For years, he navigated a world built for readers, constantly fighting the stigma and the quiet assumptions of others.
The headline itself captures a heartbreaking reality for many adults who face reading difficulties. The world often unfairly equates a struggle with words to a lack of intelligence. But as our student’s story beautifully proves, nothing could be further from the truth.
His journey from feeling isolated to finding his footing as a reader is exactly why RYALT exists. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to unlock their potential, no matter what age they start or what their past experiences with school look like. By connecting students with dedicated literacy coaches, we help them build not just reading skills, but the confidence to navigate life on their own terms.
We are so incredibly proud of Gregory for stepping in front of the camera and sharing his truth. His bravery is already helping to break the stigma surrounding adult literacy in Aotearoa, showing others who might be struggling in silence that it is never too late to ask for support.
You can read his full story and watch the video over at Stuff.co.nz: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360981918/you-must-be-dumb-inside-one-mans-lifelong-struggle-read
Are you or someone you know struggling with reading? You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to the team at the Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust today to find out how our free, confidential coaching can help. Get in touch today