From a young age, reading has the power to shape our education, ambitions, and futures. 20% of students are diagnosed with dyslexia or a related learning disability, this means 1 in every 5 students are struggling in the classroom. Lora experienced these challenges herself and now strives to encourage young students to set goals, dream big, and fully meet their potential by proving we are more than a disability. Lora believes that her message is worth your valuable time because through quality education and support through resources our next generation can become strong leaders of tomorrow.

When Lora entered middle school, she was tested for dyslexia and started a two year long tutoring journey that made her question her intelligence and her very own identity. She felt embarrassed and ashamed that she had to spend two hours, three nights a week at after school lessons to work on reading skills that classmates had already mastered. Lora’s reading ability grew stronger along with her overall understanding of the importance of education. This allowed her to push through difficulties, gain confidence, and help her to succeed in: advanced honors courses, dual credit classes, and ultimately graduate high school early with honors. Lora is currently a senior at The Ohio State University studying social work, and interning with the Ohio House of Representatives. To help raise Ohio’s literacy rates, Lora supports such organizations: Ohio Ready to Read, The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Live Free Reading, as well as tutoring fellow college classmates in the areas of reading and writing.

Lora has shared her personal journey with thousands of students across the state of Ohio and has inspired within them the same love of learning that she found as a young girl. Lora is proof that no obstacle is too big to overcome, and that perseverance has power. Telling her real-life story, Lora’s mission is to empower students and educate fellow classmates. Allowing them to better understand the struggles that come along with learning disabilities in order to minimize the embarrassment and bullying that these students endure. Lora seeks to build confidence and teach strategies to help navigate challenges, so that all students can become lifelong learners-inside and outside of the classroom.