Annie Krysztofiak, Class of 2017
Annie Krysztofiak graduated from DVFriends in 2017. She currently attends Washington College (WAC) majoring in Human Development. She plans to go into educational policy so she can advocate for students with learning differences like herself. After walking onto the WAC Rowing team as a Freshman, she earned the Most Improved award her sophomore year and was named the captain of the women’s rowing team for the 2020-2021 school year. She is the Director of Philanthropy for her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha and works in the WAC admissions office, giving tours to prospective students.
When did you come to DVFriends and from where?
I began at DVFriends in 9th grade after attending another school for students with learning differences from 1st through 8th grade.
Can you tell me about your learning difference(s)?
What specific challenges did you have in school? I was diagnosed with dyslexia in Kindergarten. I also struggle with auditory processing. It takes me longer to do homework and read. It’s also harder for me to comprehend directions from teachers.
What was school like before DVFriends?
I was really lucky to get my dyslexia diagnosis so early. Because of that, I started out right away at a school for students with learning differences. I’ve always had great support from my school community.
I was really lucky to get my dyslexia diagnosis so early. Because of that, I started out right away at a school for students with learning differences. I’ve always had great support from my school community.
How did your school experience change after coming to DVFriends?
I was nervous to start at DV because my old school was like my family. I had been there for so long and I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit in. Once I spent some time at DV and got to know my classmates and teachers, DV became my new school family
I was nervous to start at DV because my old school was like my family. I had been there for so long and I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit in. Once I spent some time at DV and got to know my classmates and teachers, DV became my new school family
Are there specific ways that the teachers at DVFriends helped you with your learning difference?
Any strategies, tools, techniques that you took with you to college or into your work life? DV teachers gave us their extra time and had a lot of patience. I took physics my freshman year with Steve Cooney. It was really hard but he met with me during lunch or study hall to give me extra help working through the material and breaking things down. A lot of the teachers personalized their teaching to each student’s learning difference. Steve and Gray taught me how to take good notes using tools like the one-word summary and how to highlight my textbooks. Keeping an agenda was really useful as well. Bill Keeney taught me how to advocate for my accommodations. Not just that we needed to do it, but how to do it -- what to say, to be authoritative and not back down. He stressed the importance of this because once we left DV, most people would not understand our learning difference. Not only would I have to advocate for myself but educate others about it.
Any strategies, tools, techniques that you took with you to college or into your work life? DV teachers gave us their extra time and had a lot of patience. I took physics my freshman year with Steve Cooney. It was really hard but he met with me during lunch or study hall to give me extra help working through the material and breaking things down. A lot of the teachers personalized their teaching to each student’s learning difference. Steve and Gray taught me how to take good notes using tools like the one-word summary and how to highlight my textbooks. Keeping an agenda was really useful as well. Bill Keeney taught me how to advocate for my accommodations. Not just that we needed to do it, but how to do it -- what to say, to be authoritative and not back down. He stressed the importance of this because once we left DV, most people would not understand our learning difference. Not only would I have to advocate for myself but educate others about it.
I used this skill when I studied abroad in Ireland. As soon as I arrived, I went right to their Office of Disabilities and handed them all my paperwork for accommodations. They still gave me a tough time! I went to the Head of the Disabilities office, and also contacted Washington College’s Disability Office. In the end, they only gave me 15 extra minutes on tests. I was really frustrated by the situation, but I had no other choice but to power through. I had always been in an environment that supported my need for accommodations and this was the first time I had to deal without them. It made me work really hard and reinforced my empathy for students who hadn’t been as lucky or fortunate as I had been to attend great LD schools. My struggle during my study abroad experience made me rethink my major. I was originally on the path to obtain an elementary education certificate upon graduation and now I want to do more education policy work. I want to help students like me get the help they need.
Do you have any special memories of your time at DVFriends? Did you participate in sports, activities?
My two favorite memories from DV are my ABLE trip to India and my ABLE sailing trip. We raised money before we went to India so that we could purchase bicycles for girls to be able to safely ride to school without the fear of being abducted on the way. That was incredibly powerful and inspired my interest in community service. I also got really close with some of the other students I went on those trips with. Both trips really took me out of my comfort zone. I also participated in student government. During my junior year I was co-clerk of the service committee and during my senior year I was co-clerk of the executive committee. I also had a special bond with my freshman advisor Kathy Halligan who really helped me with my transition to DV. Even though she was only my advisor for one year, we always joked that I was still in her advisory because I was always in her room!
My two favorite memories from DV are my ABLE trip to India and my ABLE sailing trip. We raised money before we went to India so that we could purchase bicycles for girls to be able to safely ride to school without the fear of being abducted on the way. That was incredibly powerful and inspired my interest in community service. I also got really close with some of the other students I went on those trips with. Both trips really took me out of my comfort zone. I also participated in student government. During my junior year I was co-clerk of the service committee and during my senior year I was co-clerk of the executive committee. I also had a special bond with my freshman advisor Kathy Halligan who really helped me with my transition to DV. Even though she was only my advisor for one year, we always joked that I was still in her advisory because I was always in her room!
What do you think is the lasting value of a DVFriends education?
The DV community is special. The support I received from everyone is amazing -- other students, teachers, and administrators. That support gave me the confidence to take risks that I wouldn’t have otherwise. A perfect example of that is when my now good friend, but a stranger at the time, Jordan came up to me during lunch at the beginning of freshman year. He noticed I looked upset and even though he didn’t know me, came up and gave me a hug and told me things would be alright. That community environment created confidence in me that carries me through my post-DV life. Sometimes when I talk to my friends from DV, we talk about how much we miss it.
The DV community is special. The support I received from everyone is amazing -- other students, teachers, and administrators. That support gave me the confidence to take risks that I wouldn’t have otherwise. A perfect example of that is when my now good friend, but a stranger at the time, Jordan came up to me during lunch at the beginning of freshman year. He noticed I looked upset and even though he didn’t know me, came up and gave me a hug and told me things would be alright. That community environment created confidence in me that carries me through my post-DV life. Sometimes when I talk to my friends from DV, we talk about how much we miss it.