“It’ll get better…if I can do it they can do it,” said senior Dominic Giglio-Toss, who at a young age was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. He noticed early in elementary school that he had trouble reading and paying attention.

Mrs. Giglio-Tos, Dominic’s mother, a teacher at Bel Air High School, suspected his dyslexia and as a result he was tested. While he is the only member in his family with dyslexia, he and his brother both have ADHD. “We’re not similar in anyway,“ he said. “Video games and soccer are his[brothers] outlet. Sports are an outlet for me.”

Initially after his diagnosis with ADHD, Dominic would take medications to help him focus, however, most of them would not agree with his system. “Adderall had a bad effect; it made me depressed and I would slam my head on my desk. That was all in first grade.” By sixth grade, Dominic stopped taking ADHD pills. “I would hide them around the house so I wouldn’t have to take them. I also tried a patch that you use but that would kill my hunger a lot,” said Dominic.

Throughout school, Dominic said his peers have not treated him any differently because of his disability, however, a few teachers have. Once during a standardized testing experience, Dominic said, “Adults treated me differently. The lady [in charge of testing] was talking to me as a baby. I am not stupid.”

Like other students with learning difficulties, Dominic has had to learn to overcome his challenges. “I’ve had a tutor, just for English, when I went to Bel Air elementary and middle school before coming here.” He said, his biggest improvement was last year in eleventh grade when he said “my spelling improved a lot. I can’t spell animal ,still, and I have to use my hands for lower case B’s and D’s.”

Though Dominic has had challenges to overcome, he has big plans for his future. “I would like to eventually write a book; but I’ve got my whole future planned out.” Dominic hopes to attend four years of college, maybe at Salisbury or UMBC and then he would like to get a job on a super yacht for two years since he loves to travel.

Once he’s gotten his wanderlust out his system, Dominic plans to go into a career in cyber security and work his way up to a leadership position.

Dominic has lots of advice for those who have faced challenges in their lives but he has narrowed his advice down to this: “Don’t let others make you feel less than what you really are. I know it sounds cheesy but you’ll eventually overcome it [your difficulty] with help and support.”