Writing a dissertation!

[MikeHess]

Greetings to my fellow dyspraxics,
I am 23 years old in my final year of university and have just found out I am Dyspraxic.
How did I go 23 years without a diagnosis?!
Where to begin.. I am have always known I was different to my colleagues (or classmates, as a more appropriate term) however, after falling two years behind I am finally in the final year of my degree. I have scraped the minimum marks to get me through academic life knowing I am more intelligent than my grades reflect.
After 2 decades of underachievement I decided it was worth taking a 'Dyslexic Screening' provided by the university.
I was sure I wasn't Dyslexic as I have always had good phonetic comprehension, although I knew something was holding me back in an academic manner.
After the screening it became apparent that I wasn't a 'Lazy child' or 'Unwilling to apply himself!' In fact I showed likely signs of Dyspraxia! Alas a reason as to my differences!

Coming to terms with a 'hidden' disability.
Anybody reading this who suffers from dyspraxia will understand the frustration and anxiety boiling up inside of me without a healthy way of discharging such a negative source of energy. If there is one piece of advice I can give to my fellow gifted (and yes I do see dyspraxia as a gift) friends as a word of advice, it would be to use your dyspraxia as an advantage.
There are employers out there who look for dyspraxics because we think outside the box and have such a holistic view of the world, that we can literally see the potential of ideas and dreams! Don't believe me? Well Albert Einstein and Sir Richard Branson are two successful dyspraxics who may think otherwise.

It is strange for me to find out that my brain is wired differently to 90% of the population but I like that. Being like everybody else is boring and seeing the world in three dimensions gets old very quickly. I want more and fortunately dyspraxia has given me the capacity to achieve so much in my life.

One weakness I have is the inability to structure. This post has become totally unrelated to the title, although it has been good to finally get some of this weight off my shoulders. I came here looking for help or guidance with writing a 10,000 word dissertation so any advice from some dyspraxic post grads would be fantastic.

Kind Regards to you all,
Mike

[tara]

Hey Milke

Well we are in exactly the same boat hmm that's weird!! I need to be writing up now as well and also need to be revising!!

What are you studying out of curiosity(if you dont mind me asking)?

tara

Greetings to my fellow dyspraxics,
I am 23 years old in my final year of university and have just found out I am Dyspraxic.
How did I go 23 years without a diagnosis?!
Where to begin.. I am have always known I was different to my colleagues (or classmates, as a more appropriate term) however, after falling two years behind I am finally in the final year of my degree. I have scraped the minimum marks to get me through academic life knowing I am more intelligent than my grades reflect.
After 2 decades of underachievement I decided it was worth taking a 'Dyslexic Screening' provided by the university.
I was sure I wasn't Dyslexic as I have always had good phonetic comprehension, although I knew something was holding me back in an academic manner.
After the screening it became apparent that I wasn't a 'Lazy child' or 'Unwilling to apply himself!' In fact I showed likely signs of Dyspraxia! Alas a reason as to my differences!

Coming to terms with a 'hidden' disability.
Anybody reading this who suffers from dyspraxia will understand the frustration and anxiety boiling up inside of me without a healthy way of discharging such a negative source of energy. If there is one piece of advice I can give to my fellow gifted (and yes I do see dyspraxia as a gift) friends as a word of advice, it would be to use your dyspraxia as an advantage.
There are employers out there who look for dyspraxics because we think outside the box and have such a holistic view of the world, that we can literally see the potential of ideas and dreams! Don't believe me? Well Albert Einstein and Sir Richard Branson are two successful dyspraxics who may think otherwise.

It is strange for me to find out that my brain is wired differently to 90% of the population but I like that. Being like everybody else is boring and seeing the world in three dimensions gets old very quickly. I want more and fortunately dyspraxia has given me the capacity to achieve so much in my life.

One weakness I have is the inability to structure. This post has become totally unrelated to the title, although it has been good to finally get some of this weight off my shoulders. I came here looking for help or guidance with writing a 10,000 word dissertation so any advice from some dyspraxic post grads would be fantastic.

Kind Regards to you all,
Mike

[MikeHess]

Hi Tara,

Thanks for your reply, it's good to know there's someone else out there with the same task ahead of them. I'm studying Popular Music and Record Production at Southampton Solent University. It's funny because the practical side of the course has been great and I feel I've really excelled in it. However, the academic work and Harvard style of referencing has been the bane of the last four years of my life. What are you studying and writing your dissertation about?

I've completed my literature review but I can't get my around the methodology. I really need to plan my primary research but I've been stuck in the same place for three days and starting to get pretty stressed and anxious about it all. To be honest I'm really looking forward to finishing Uni now, although 'the real world' is pretty daunting. Do you have anything lined up for when you finish?

I'm finding that if I can do a little bit of work each day then I can stay relaxed. My final term starts on the 8th and I really want to try and get it finished before then but I don't know if that is realistic. I'm also running a record label for my collaborative major project, which is worth just as many credits as the dissertation so double the stress. How are you coping with it all?

Mike

[tara]

Hi Mike

Sounds like youv'e got a mass to do! I still am very stuck on my writing I have two cchildren as well and this causes a lot of problems. I need to do little bits at a time with full focus and its impossible to do with young children! They are in themselves lovely children and I love spending time with them but its really difficult to find time. I have managed to sleep during the day today using the tv as a baby sitting tool!!! hubby with them offcourse but no acitivties out and about as such!

So I plan to get some work done tonight! Its very very slow. I really need to finish my write up before the 8th. I think I am going to get some planning done although I have to say planning never works with me. I am studying BSc Mathematics at Greenwich in London. Same here for the practical side I loved my placement and evertyhgin but actually writing up is just taking forever. I need to start and finish it! so that I can revise!

Lets see how it all goes. I must say the recodring method works with me for revising. I use my phone all the time to record what I am reading and then I listen back. Wish I knew this a long time ago!

Have things improved with you at all since you last posted?

Tara

Hi Tara,

Thanks for your reply, it's good to know there's someone else out there with the same task ahead of them. I'm studying Popular Music and Record Production at Southampton Solent University. It's funny because the practical side of the course has been great and I feel I've really excelled in it. However, the academic work and Harvard style of referencing has been the bane of the last four years of my life. What are you studying and writing your dissertation about?

I've completed my literature review but I can't get my around the methodology. I really need to plan my primary research but I've been stuck in the same place for three days and starting to get pretty stressed and anxious about it all. To be honest I'm really looking forward to finishing Uni now, although 'the real world' is pretty daunting. Do you have anything lined up for when you finish?

I'm finding that if I can do a little bit of work each day then I can stay relaxed. My final term starts on the 8th and I really want to try and get it finished before then but I don't know if that is realistic. I'm also running a record label for my collaborative major project, which is worth just as many credits as the dissertation so double the stress. How are you coping with it all?

Mike

[rohan]

Hi guys,

Just found this site last night - it is awesome!!

I am dyspraxic and have started studying for a part time masters. After dropping out of one school and two Universities the first time round, it is pretty daunting. Sadly also lost my job five months ago, so times are a little more challenging at the moment.

Also have a young daughter. Wife doesn't really believe in dyspraxia or that I am not just being awkward. She's feeling the strain and it's not time to educate her properly yet (made my own bed by not making anything of it in the past).

Good luck - I hope your various courses are going well. An organisational nightmare! :-)

I always find it amazing how the most "ordinary" changes can have a massive difference. Such as making a desk in the bedroom as opposed to working at the dining room table. Unbelievable increase in productivity.

Yours,

Rohan

[Tom fod]

Hi guys,

Just found this site last night - it is awesome!!

I am dyspraxic and have started studying for a part time masters. After dropping out of one school and two Universities the first time round, it is pretty daunting. Sadly also lost my job five months ago, so times are a little more challenging at the moment.

Also have a young daughter. Wife doesn't really believe in dyspraxia or that I am not just being awkward. She's feeling the strain and it's not time to educate her properly yet (made my own bed by not making anything of it in the past).

Good luck - I hope your various courses are going well. An organisational nightmare! :-)

I always find it amazing how the most "ordinary" changes can have a massive difference. Such as making a desk in the bedroom as opposed to working at the dining room table. Unbelievable increase in productivity.

Yours,

Rohan

Hi Rohan

Pleased to read your finding the site awesome. I also found it a great comfort when I first learned of my dyspraxicness. There are positives but finding them can be a real challenge. Equally getting others to accept us as the individuals we are irrespective of any 'dyspraxic' label is as much a challenge.

Welcome and all the best with your Masters.