Part #2 of our chat with author @Ciara Knight LUV: Can you tell us about your journey to publication overcoming learning challenges and how being a Walt Disney World dancer inspired you? Ciara: As a child, I was labeled mentally retarded and placed in special education classes for several years. By middle school, I was in a trailer behind the school, where I was the only verbal student. High school was a struggle, and I barely graduated. Unsure of what to do next, I enrolled in junior college, but I hated it. I felt dumb and avoided classes. Taking a chance, I auditioned for Walt Disney World. While memorizing facts from a book was challenging, I could learn a dance routine in seconds. Out of thousands, I secured a part as a seasonal temporary employee, performing as a snowwoman in the Christmas parade. The eighty-pound costume on my shoulders pushed me to audition for higher roles. I eventually became a face character, dancing without a fur costume as a full-time employee. However, an injury made me realize I couldn't dance forever. Secretly, I enrolled in community college classes and earned my first A. Motivated, I continued and completed my first two years with a 3.97 GPA, securing a full academic scholarship to college. Years later, when my son struggled in school, I discovered that I wasn't mentally challenged but dyslexic and dysgraphic. This realization reignited my childhood dream of becoming a writer, a dream I once thought impossible due to my language issues.

Posted by LUV Team at 2024-07-16 19:00:21 UTC