Girl Brilliantly Shuts Down Every Teacher, Classmate And Parent Who Ever Called Her Stupid
With the odds stacked against you and everyone bringing you down, giving up seems tempting. But not for Phoebe. This Australian has been going through a lot while chasing her academic dreams, and she refused to let them go, embracing every difficulty life threw at her.
“Unfortunately I was bullied relentlessly for years,” Phoebe writes. “I just try use it as motivation.” She was shamed for being “too stupid” and being diagnosed with Dyslexia (a reading disorder), Dyscalculia (a difficulty in understanding numbers), dysgraphia (a deficiency in the ability to write), and ADHD (problems paying attention) surely didn’t help either. “Sadly, due to the harassment at school, I was too nervous to ever put people on blast or stand up for myself.”
Today, however, she doesn’t have to. The results of her persistent hard work are speaking for themselves. But don’t take my word for it. Scroll down to read Phoebe’s inspiring story she wrote herself!
One Australian girl has decided to shut down her bullies with hard work and here’s how it turned out
Mandatory selfie with the diploma for the books
Celebrating Phoebe’s achievement, people were relating to her heartwarming story
I don't understand the thinking behind "not letting a child sit beside her ". I will sit beside a hardworking and motivated person any day over someone who breezes through on intelligence and little work . It instills good work ethics motivation to work hard.
Some people think anything is contagious. My mother once got screamed at for being in a mall with cancer (no hair and an amputated leg). That kid was more likely to catch stupidity from her own parents than this girl.
Load More Replies...I have a friend who spent her entire life growing up in special ed classes. In high school, she asked her teacher where she should go to college so she could be a teacher, too. That teacher laughed at her and told her she would never go to college. I met her in college, she became a teacher, and now she owns and operates her own business. Don't let ignorant, judgemental people stand in your way.
No problems on my phone.... I use the latest Android version on an LG G6, if that helps the admins to solve the problem.
Load More Replies...That's a lot of disabilities for no one to notice. Having tutored I know its possibly to miss learning disabilities, but difficulty spelling and recognizing numbers would become evident quickly.
Depends on teacher and parents. Teachers might think that the student is lazy and not doing homework, plus being a bit slow, parents might think that the child does not simply have abilities or do not think to test them (some believe it is a shame if something like that is diagnosed)
Load More Replies...I'm guessing she was treated this way because she was disruptive (talkative, moving around, not doing work) during class due to her ADHD and frustration with her work. Unfortunately that's not uncommon, and why I'm a huge supporter of ADHD medication for kids who do better in school when they're on it.
I agree Aleta. My nephew struggled much during his early school years. Fortunately, he went to a school where his teachers paid attention, and loving parents who also paid attention, discussed things with his teacher and eventually had him diagnosed with ADHD. My nephew started his meds in 5th or 6th grade (I don't recall exactly) and his meds made all the difference in the world. They enabled him to slow down, focus and learn to LEARN! By his senior year he was off the meds and doing great.. My nephew ended up in the Air Force and now manages multi-million dollar negotiations from inception to closing. Meds work. They work for those who need them, And true, not every kid or adolescent needs them which is why parents need to work with teachers and doctors, their allies, to help their children. It takes a lot of time and patience, but it is essential for the child.
Load More Replies...people are so quick to judge know the whole story. Congrats to the girl on her bravery and accoplishments
This is amazing. Good for you!! I'm a teacher and I hate that individuals like that make us all look bad. A teachers job is to inspire... to motivate the student...to see the best in the kids. Shame on that teacher. He/she has no business in a classroom.
I only have part time teaching experience, but what you say was totally my "professional ethics" when I was a teacher. At the point that, when I was assigned to train a kid prior to an exam, he was telling himself that he was stupid and probably impaired, or something, but I kindly proved him wrong by showing him his past results. To compare with the new results and how much better the new ones are. Next thing, after the exam he came to me all proud, saying how he got a high grade for that exam. Awwweeeee adorable li'l boy. ♥
Load More Replies...so it worked !, if everybody would have patted you on the back and give you participation diplomas you would still be dumb like a rock , ps: obviously the diagnoses were wrong as they are easily offered based on the symptoms and not by defining a cause, all you prove is that you were lazy, go thank that teacher .
This reminds me of when basically this exact thing happened to my ADHD and OCD sister. Such a positive story should be spread everywhere. You go girl! No one can hold you back!
Well done! I had no idea there was a name for not understanding maths. I was routinely dragged out of bed at prep school to redo my maths homework ( I was 7) & during holidays in Spain , made to do 2 hours every day. I was called stupid & felt stupid. I also couldn't understand short hand , it was intensely frustrating. So, I'm full of respect for this amazing girl. She has overcome her difficulties & I wish her all the best in the future.
I think people should sit down and think really hard about education system and that all students cannot be treated the same. Some people just need more help or different type of help to shine. But saying that someone will become stupid for sitting with a person who doesnt have good grades is idiotic. Their child will become stupid for having stupid parents not because of classmate that is bad at maths. I was always good at math and I sat with students who werent but that really didnt influence my skills. Actually, I think it helped my classmates who sat with me and were struggling with math.
I feel bad for kids who have to interact with adults like these teachers. I feel worse for kids with these issues in a poor school district. Go ahead and keep cutting schools though. Kids like these will just rise above it.
You go girl! Those bad teachers have no right being around impressionable young people. I prefer to think of mental uniqueness as a variation instead of an aberration.
She's gorgeous , little vindictive but considering the effort she had to put in , bravo madame !
I love this woman for her accomplishments and for calling out those who bullied her. Being diagnosed and then sharing it with the world is commendable. I recognize this was in Australia, I'm sure the same thing goes on here in US public schools. Hopefully she will help raise awareness and make people think twice about who they bully and why. Hopefully, this will help make teachers more aware and encourage them to be the first in line to help diagnose suspect students and encourage parents to have their children tested when teachers and fellow students start to notice the signs of learning disabilities and be more supportive.
I was told to leave middle school because I am not to be ingenious enough and whatever I do I fail intentionally to avoid any endeavour. When I was 38, I was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome and at that time I got my PhD andbuilt my research group in experimental medicine. I never feel like to meet my teachers and classmates again and pay off old scores. Better is to thank to them who supported me despite of my "stupid" appearance.
I admire the hard work and dedication and stubborness! Awesome JOB! And can't help to notice she is lovely and those ginger curls are stunning :))))
A Bachelor of Arts in Communications? I'm pretty sure B.Comm only exists to make Philosophy and Poli Sci majors feel a little better about themselves as they man the french fry station at work.
Then Australia must have really bad faculty and no remedial teachers. Here (Switzerland) most of those things like ADHS, dyslexia and discalculism are already detected in Kindergarten and/or early school and treated accordingly in class and this is normal and is not seen as special/weird by classmates. It is not something to be ashamed of. It is a shame that kids get no support. And that is the point those newly made Bachelors miss: If you want to help other kids, you should not be revengeful to the parents who did not protect you, the teachers who had no clue and schoolmates who made you unhappy and who mobbed you. Go for a better School system and complain to the Government. There are many like you who didn't make it and they need help from you.
I have Dysgraphia, AADD, social anxiety disorder and commend this girl on her achievements. I had teachers, guidance consolers, and even my own parents tell me I would never amount to anything. Personally, my anxiety kept me from using my disability I never wanted to disclose it to the people in fear of judgment, and I wanted to know I could compete on a level playing field. After years of construction and factory jobs, I had enough and enrolled in a technical college. I'm 13 years into my career and I'm doing better than most. My anxiety is at an all-time low and I live to crush problems and spend time with my family. There are more of us than you know.
Ignorance is bad enough but among teachers, it is the worst thing in the world. And parents count as children's first teachers, so they too are responsible for all the square pegs in round holes, broken motivation and destructive behaviors that they nurture. If ignorance was criminalized parents and school teachers would count among the highest number of inmates.
Oh wow, people are rude but didn't anyone bring her down. KEEP IT UP GIRL
It is so sad that some people - teachers, especially, that should know better -- don't help a child identify and address any disabilities she may have. Disabilities do not mean a person is stupid. We are all disabled in some way, and we all need support and help at some time in our lives. Why not help a child overcome her learning problems and achieve her potential? I am so happy for Phoebe! You are beautiful, you are courageous, and you rock! But I am sad for the many children that may lack her spunk, and get discouraged and give up. What a waste of human potential!
There are so many famous geniouses that had dyslexia: Einstein, Edison, Da Vinci etc etc. Actually it turns out that people with this learning disability usually have an IQ above average!
it is truly amazing that you did this....and so much before you had some REAL help when you were pushing yourself so hard. It makes me as proud of us as if you were my daughter or grand daughter. You have shown those in your past they were so very wrong about you!!!
WTG, I am the teacher they always gave the most difficult students to because I can teach anyone. A friend of mine was dyslexic and had a few more issues, he became a teacher of history like myself. He had to train himself to write normally, and even then when he got on a roll he would still write the occasional word or even sentence backwards, his students loved it, they would pay really close attention to catch him. He made a game of it with them. I myself now that I teach college, like to interject some odd fact about sex or something else really odd. My students started paying even closer attention because there was no telling what I might say. As for students with disabilities- two of my own sons have severe learning disabilities, 1 cannot be helped much, but the other, I work with him as much as I can. My students with disabilities, if they have a problem learning one way, I find a way they can learn. Your former teachers who said you needed to drop, were just lazy.
Congrats to her for showing those who didn't believe in her that she could rise above. Unrelated. Who wouldn't want to sit next to her? Ask her to go on a study date, help each other study. This would have been like the perfect excuse to ask her out and learn at the same time.
People. Its a bachelor of ARTS. In Communications! The only thing easier maybe is journalism. If it was a science degree, the smugness might be understandable!? WTF?
It’s a degree! My foreign language degree goes under arts and its damn sure not easy
Load More Replies...And she's GORGEOUS too! What a blessing she is to this world and what a wonderful role model. Good job. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
With looks like that, who needs maths and English skills?- here's to a successful modelling career...
What if she wants to have a different career ? I agree that she looks amazing, but beauty only lasts that long, and if she has no education, her chances in life are small. I admire her determination to get the life she wants to live and not give up. Ambition, hard work and determination lead further and their effects last longer than physical beauty alone...
Load More Replies...i realize jon that you asked this out of a true and genuine desire for attention, but the answer is to inspire others both diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Load More Replies...It's because of that adversity she pushed herself harder. So it's not black and white as it seems.
Load More Replies...I don't understand the thinking behind "not letting a child sit beside her ". I will sit beside a hardworking and motivated person any day over someone who breezes through on intelligence and little work . It instills good work ethics motivation to work hard.
Some people think anything is contagious. My mother once got screamed at for being in a mall with cancer (no hair and an amputated leg). That kid was more likely to catch stupidity from her own parents than this girl.
Load More Replies...I have a friend who spent her entire life growing up in special ed classes. In high school, she asked her teacher where she should go to college so she could be a teacher, too. That teacher laughed at her and told her she would never go to college. I met her in college, she became a teacher, and now she owns and operates her own business. Don't let ignorant, judgemental people stand in your way.
No problems on my phone.... I use the latest Android version on an LG G6, if that helps the admins to solve the problem.
Load More Replies...That's a lot of disabilities for no one to notice. Having tutored I know its possibly to miss learning disabilities, but difficulty spelling and recognizing numbers would become evident quickly.
Depends on teacher and parents. Teachers might think that the student is lazy and not doing homework, plus being a bit slow, parents might think that the child does not simply have abilities or do not think to test them (some believe it is a shame if something like that is diagnosed)
Load More Replies...I'm guessing she was treated this way because she was disruptive (talkative, moving around, not doing work) during class due to her ADHD and frustration with her work. Unfortunately that's not uncommon, and why I'm a huge supporter of ADHD medication for kids who do better in school when they're on it.
I agree Aleta. My nephew struggled much during his early school years. Fortunately, he went to a school where his teachers paid attention, and loving parents who also paid attention, discussed things with his teacher and eventually had him diagnosed with ADHD. My nephew started his meds in 5th or 6th grade (I don't recall exactly) and his meds made all the difference in the world. They enabled him to slow down, focus and learn to LEARN! By his senior year he was off the meds and doing great.. My nephew ended up in the Air Force and now manages multi-million dollar negotiations from inception to closing. Meds work. They work for those who need them, And true, not every kid or adolescent needs them which is why parents need to work with teachers and doctors, their allies, to help their children. It takes a lot of time and patience, but it is essential for the child.
Load More Replies...people are so quick to judge know the whole story. Congrats to the girl on her bravery and accoplishments
This is amazing. Good for you!! I'm a teacher and I hate that individuals like that make us all look bad. A teachers job is to inspire... to motivate the student...to see the best in the kids. Shame on that teacher. He/she has no business in a classroom.
I only have part time teaching experience, but what you say was totally my "professional ethics" when I was a teacher. At the point that, when I was assigned to train a kid prior to an exam, he was telling himself that he was stupid and probably impaired, or something, but I kindly proved him wrong by showing him his past results. To compare with the new results and how much better the new ones are. Next thing, after the exam he came to me all proud, saying how he got a high grade for that exam. Awwweeeee adorable li'l boy. ♥
Load More Replies...so it worked !, if everybody would have patted you on the back and give you participation diplomas you would still be dumb like a rock , ps: obviously the diagnoses were wrong as they are easily offered based on the symptoms and not by defining a cause, all you prove is that you were lazy, go thank that teacher .
This reminds me of when basically this exact thing happened to my ADHD and OCD sister. Such a positive story should be spread everywhere. You go girl! No one can hold you back!
Well done! I had no idea there was a name for not understanding maths. I was routinely dragged out of bed at prep school to redo my maths homework ( I was 7) & during holidays in Spain , made to do 2 hours every day. I was called stupid & felt stupid. I also couldn't understand short hand , it was intensely frustrating. So, I'm full of respect for this amazing girl. She has overcome her difficulties & I wish her all the best in the future.
I think people should sit down and think really hard about education system and that all students cannot be treated the same. Some people just need more help or different type of help to shine. But saying that someone will become stupid for sitting with a person who doesnt have good grades is idiotic. Their child will become stupid for having stupid parents not because of classmate that is bad at maths. I was always good at math and I sat with students who werent but that really didnt influence my skills. Actually, I think it helped my classmates who sat with me and were struggling with math.
I feel bad for kids who have to interact with adults like these teachers. I feel worse for kids with these issues in a poor school district. Go ahead and keep cutting schools though. Kids like these will just rise above it.
You go girl! Those bad teachers have no right being around impressionable young people. I prefer to think of mental uniqueness as a variation instead of an aberration.
She's gorgeous , little vindictive but considering the effort she had to put in , bravo madame !
I love this woman for her accomplishments and for calling out those who bullied her. Being diagnosed and then sharing it with the world is commendable. I recognize this was in Australia, I'm sure the same thing goes on here in US public schools. Hopefully she will help raise awareness and make people think twice about who they bully and why. Hopefully, this will help make teachers more aware and encourage them to be the first in line to help diagnose suspect students and encourage parents to have their children tested when teachers and fellow students start to notice the signs of learning disabilities and be more supportive.
I was told to leave middle school because I am not to be ingenious enough and whatever I do I fail intentionally to avoid any endeavour. When I was 38, I was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome and at that time I got my PhD andbuilt my research group in experimental medicine. I never feel like to meet my teachers and classmates again and pay off old scores. Better is to thank to them who supported me despite of my "stupid" appearance.
I admire the hard work and dedication and stubborness! Awesome JOB! And can't help to notice she is lovely and those ginger curls are stunning :))))
A Bachelor of Arts in Communications? I'm pretty sure B.Comm only exists to make Philosophy and Poli Sci majors feel a little better about themselves as they man the french fry station at work.
Then Australia must have really bad faculty and no remedial teachers. Here (Switzerland) most of those things like ADHS, dyslexia and discalculism are already detected in Kindergarten and/or early school and treated accordingly in class and this is normal and is not seen as special/weird by classmates. It is not something to be ashamed of. It is a shame that kids get no support. And that is the point those newly made Bachelors miss: If you want to help other kids, you should not be revengeful to the parents who did not protect you, the teachers who had no clue and schoolmates who made you unhappy and who mobbed you. Go for a better School system and complain to the Government. There are many like you who didn't make it and they need help from you.
I have Dysgraphia, AADD, social anxiety disorder and commend this girl on her achievements. I had teachers, guidance consolers, and even my own parents tell me I would never amount to anything. Personally, my anxiety kept me from using my disability I never wanted to disclose it to the people in fear of judgment, and I wanted to know I could compete on a level playing field. After years of construction and factory jobs, I had enough and enrolled in a technical college. I'm 13 years into my career and I'm doing better than most. My anxiety is at an all-time low and I live to crush problems and spend time with my family. There are more of us than you know.
Ignorance is bad enough but among teachers, it is the worst thing in the world. And parents count as children's first teachers, so they too are responsible for all the square pegs in round holes, broken motivation and destructive behaviors that they nurture. If ignorance was criminalized parents and school teachers would count among the highest number of inmates.
Oh wow, people are rude but didn't anyone bring her down. KEEP IT UP GIRL
It is so sad that some people - teachers, especially, that should know better -- don't help a child identify and address any disabilities she may have. Disabilities do not mean a person is stupid. We are all disabled in some way, and we all need support and help at some time in our lives. Why not help a child overcome her learning problems and achieve her potential? I am so happy for Phoebe! You are beautiful, you are courageous, and you rock! But I am sad for the many children that may lack her spunk, and get discouraged and give up. What a waste of human potential!
There are so many famous geniouses that had dyslexia: Einstein, Edison, Da Vinci etc etc. Actually it turns out that people with this learning disability usually have an IQ above average!
it is truly amazing that you did this....and so much before you had some REAL help when you were pushing yourself so hard. It makes me as proud of us as if you were my daughter or grand daughter. You have shown those in your past they were so very wrong about you!!!
WTG, I am the teacher they always gave the most difficult students to because I can teach anyone. A friend of mine was dyslexic and had a few more issues, he became a teacher of history like myself. He had to train himself to write normally, and even then when he got on a roll he would still write the occasional word or even sentence backwards, his students loved it, they would pay really close attention to catch him. He made a game of it with them. I myself now that I teach college, like to interject some odd fact about sex or something else really odd. My students started paying even closer attention because there was no telling what I might say. As for students with disabilities- two of my own sons have severe learning disabilities, 1 cannot be helped much, but the other, I work with him as much as I can. My students with disabilities, if they have a problem learning one way, I find a way they can learn. Your former teachers who said you needed to drop, were just lazy.
Congrats to her for showing those who didn't believe in her that she could rise above. Unrelated. Who wouldn't want to sit next to her? Ask her to go on a study date, help each other study. This would have been like the perfect excuse to ask her out and learn at the same time.
People. Its a bachelor of ARTS. In Communications! The only thing easier maybe is journalism. If it was a science degree, the smugness might be understandable!? WTF?
It’s a degree! My foreign language degree goes under arts and its damn sure not easy
Load More Replies...And she's GORGEOUS too! What a blessing she is to this world and what a wonderful role model. Good job. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
With looks like that, who needs maths and English skills?- here's to a successful modelling career...
What if she wants to have a different career ? I agree that she looks amazing, but beauty only lasts that long, and if she has no education, her chances in life are small. I admire her determination to get the life she wants to live and not give up. Ambition, hard work and determination lead further and their effects last longer than physical beauty alone...
Load More Replies...i realize jon that you asked this out of a true and genuine desire for attention, but the answer is to inspire others both diagnosed and undiagnosed.
Load More Replies...It's because of that adversity she pushed herself harder. So it's not black and white as it seems.
Load More Replies...
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