Inspiring Stories of Success

Student Heroes!

All of us at RFB&D are very proud of Ryan Johnson, a young man who graduated over the summer from J. Serra High School in San Juan Capistrano. Ryan has dyslexia and has been using RFB&D's services since the 9th grade, he has proved over and over that he has an amazing mind and an amazing ability to succeed. Ryan is just one of t of RFB&D's 'Heroes' and this is his story:

"Having lunch with my mother at a local Chinese restaurant, I devoured my "house special" chicken on a bed of rice and tore open the packaging on my fortune cookie. I love this part of the meal, not because I love fortune cookies, but because I enjoy getting a glimpse into my future! I read it out loud to my mom, it read "you will be happy in mind and heart." My mom, who is not a big believer in the power of the fortune cookie, surprised me by saying, "I believe that." What about me made my mother believe that I was destined to be happy in both mind and heart?

I attempted to understand my mother's prediction and in doing so, I came to the realization that my mother felt confident in my future because I have always managed to rise above obstacles and succeed.

I encountered my first great obstacle in eighth grade when I was diagnosed with dyslexia. I was tested by a private psychologist and after extensive testing he diagnosed me with a significant reading and writing disorder and possibly A.D.D. He recommended that I receive extended time on all tests at school and that I become a member of RFB&D. Before long I had access to all of my textbooks and novels on CD, and for the first time could read the required material without the blood, sweat and tears that normally accompanied long reading assignments! Not only was I able to succeed but achieved far more than I could ever have imagined, I earned straight "A"s throughout my freshman year and was off to a great start.

When I was enrolling for classes my junior year, my counselor advised me to take Advanced Placement English. Reluctantly I signed up for the class yet I worried endlessly, "how could I compete in Advanced Placement English when I had dyslexia?" I received an "A" my first semester and a "B" my second semester!

One semester short of graduation from high school I had a 4.3 academic GPA and am ranked in the top five percent in my graduating class. I have already been accepted in nine colleges including Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and Cal Poly St Luis Obispo and am waiting to hear form 14 more including Stanford, USC, SCLA and UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley has expressed great interest in me because of my success in school despite my learning disability. Four years ago when I enrolled in RFBD, I never would have thought that I would have been accepted to so many great universities. Maybe when my mother expressed confidence that I would be happy in mind and heart she drew that conclusion from watching me succeed in spite of my learning disability.

I will never eat Chinese food and read the fortune in my cookie without remembering my mother's confidence in my ability to be happy and succeed in the face of obstacles. I have learned that I can be successful even though I have a learning disability. When there is a will, there is a way. I had the will and RFB&D supplied me with the way."

As you can see RFB&D changes lives!

p.s. I'm excited to tell you that in September Ryan began attending UC Berkeley - we wish him every success.

Last summer Carrie Schaeffer wrote this beautiful letter to the IE/OC Unit's donors. Carrie is an incredible young woman who has faced some incredible challenges in life….yet has overcome them with courage and determination! Last month Carrie began working as an airline reservationist for American Airlines…congratulations on ALL that you have accomplished Carrie!

SUBJECT: I Graduated!

On fathers day this year, with tears in my eyes, and my heart pounding, my dream of getting my degree finally became a reality, and I walked wearing my cap and gown in front of a huge crowd at Cal State San Bernardino to receive my Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies. This was the best and the proudest moment of my whole life!

Hi, my name is Carrie Schaeffer, and I've been an RFB&D member since elementary school. When my mom was only 4 ½ months pregnant I was born, weighing only 1 pound and 11 ounces. The NICU doctors said over and over that the chances of my survival were minimal - they told my family that I was not going to make it.

Well, I proved them wrong! It seems I was destined to survive and overcome many obstacles, including blindness.

Education has been a real lifeline for me. Even though people told me that I would never be able to get a degree, I was going to do whatever it took to pursue my education. I knew that I needed an education, and knew that by getting my degree I was going to be able to get a good job, increase my chances of enjoying a career, independence, and to get on with the job of living.

I asked RFB&D if it would be ok to write and thank you - the generous donors. Your investment in RFB&D is also an investment in my life. Without RFB&D, I wouldn't have been able to take most of my classses, and I certainly would not have been able to get a college degree.

I hope that my letter gives you some idea of my gratitude to you, and let's you know that you are appreciated - because you are!

Warmly,

Carrie Schaeffer
Class of 2007
Cal State San Bernardino