NLDLine

This is a response from David, an NLD adult, to another NLD-In-Common listserv writer:

College and University Education: An NLDer's Story

My struggles academically have been in the 4 year university arena. Elementary and Secondary school classes were not that much of a problem on a consistent basis, although Algebra and Geometry were hard in high
school to get a quick grasp on. My first semester out of high school at community college was an almost complete bust. I had to withdraw from all but my P.E. class (volleyball, where I earned a 'C').  My first English composition class that I took afterwards overwhelmed me with all kinds of projects, but not enough time for me to complete them all.

My strategy was to do the term paper well (which I did) and so I got an 'A' on the term paper but a 'D' for the course. Later I withdrew from Accounting and Economics classes because the speed of the course/newness of the
information and the demands of completing the work were simply overwhelming. I later took and passed all of these courses. . .but at a cost to my confidence and loss of time anticipated for being further along in my Business Degree program. I began to get more wary about what kind of course load I should take, and even what professors I should take. To solve one dilemma, I traveled 65 miles to a different campus for a class in Marketing Research because the local professor would shout at you and load you down with *lots* of homework.

I definitely relate to those comments from your professors accusing you of having English as a Second Language.
For my final English composition class that I took for my Teacher Education program recently, I worked especially hard to follow all the nuances of the professor's preferred style (MLS). All these picayune details which seem
to me not to be such a big deal became a *very* big deal. I had the same experiences you did in some ways. . . and just had to work harder longer to make sure I had it right. Starting early on the required term paper (is
there *ever* an English comp class without a paper requirement??? Arrrrgh!!!) proved to be a wise decision. I got an 'A' with special mention for my efforts. (It was a longer paper than required - but it covered a topic I wanted to delve into, hence the special mention).  

These days I do have my Bachelor's Degree (Marketing/Organizational Management), extra Liberal Arts coursework towards the California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a place to live, a vehicle to drive in good
repair (!!!) and a wonderful church to call home and have ongoing deep relationships with. Though I didn't  complete the full coursework for my Teaching Credential (another *long* story why not), I am working in the
schools as a guest teacher and doing well all things considered.