Hallie Hayne '20 Recruiting Profile

In fifth grade I was diagnosed with dyslexia. This was not surprising to me because my little brother was diagnosed the year before, but it was difficult for me. I attended a small private middle school, and I was the only person in my grade at the time to be diagnosed with dyslexia. I was not sure what it really meant, so I decided to only share it with the teachers, and I kept the news away from my friends. I was embarrassed by having dyslexia, so I decided to learn about it from my tutor, parents, and the internet. The more I learned about it; the less scary and embarrassed I was by it. I told my friends and by the time I left my middle school in eighth grade I was not only accepting, but I was also proud.

This experience has taught me to persevere and conquer challenges that seem difficult at first. Being diagnosed with dyslexia has also translated into my playing. Throughout the game I may lose the ball or give a bad pass to my teammate, but instead of putting my head down and pouting about the mistake I made; I turn around and get back on defense. I think about my mistake and realize what I should’ve done better, but I do not give up because I know that my team is depending on me, and i need to be there to help them.