Amanda DeSouza's Blog - M.A. Professional Practice, Dance Teaching Pedagogy

  ‘Theatre made me feel like I had a place, purpose, and a future. Theatre gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself even when I did not.’ If you allow me to elaborate on my above quoted statement. I was diagnosed with a learning disability at age six. This disability did not come with a name or title like some. I was left thinking to myself ‘What is going on? I am dumb. I am stupid. Why am I so slow?’ I had lots of trouble keeping up in my reading and math classes. I remember friends of mine reading complete Dr Seuss books, while I was still trying to formulate how to read sentences. This was a very difficult time for me as a child. My teachers and I could not figure out what would help me. I was thus thrusted into the resource room, a room for children with learning differences. While I had lovely teachers, and I made lots of friends, I was sad and lonely on the inside. I wanted to learn like a ‘normal’ kid. I’d stare out the window of the classroom thinking “the only ...