Michelle Guerin, Class of 2016
Michelle Guerin earned her BA in Digital Communications from Cabrini University in 2020. Currently, she is a graphic designer for Villanova University’s Athletic Department. Michelle also works as a consultant alongside Main Line Health’s Communications Department, helping with their content, creating graphic design, and more. As a child, Michelle always wanted to be a part of the healthcare system -- to use her skills to help families, especially kids, find the right treatment options. Her work at Main Line Health is definitely a step in the right direction toward fulfilling that dream.
In addition, Michelle joined the NCLD Young Adult Leadership Council in September 2020, where she works with other young adults around the United States to learn more about policies affecting people with learning differences, strengthen their own education stories, and later, go to Washington DC to lobby and advocate.
When did you come to DVFriends? From what school/type of school?
I came to DVFriends in my 8th-grade year from a public school. I had previously switched from a Catholic school to a public school.
I came to DVFriends in my 8th-grade year from a public school. I had previously switched from a Catholic school to a public school.
Can you tell me about your learning difference(s)? What specific challenges did you have in school?
I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder. Before DV, I had so much trouble in the subjects English, Language Arts, Math, History, Social Studies… basically every and all classes that had to do with spelling, reading comprehension, math, memorizing, etc.
I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder. Before DV, I had so much trouble in the subjects English, Language Arts, Math, History, Social Studies… basically every and all classes that had to do with spelling, reading comprehension, math, memorizing, etc.
What was school like before DVFriends? How did your school experience change after coming to DV?
My school experience before DV was horrible. I couldn’t see a successful future for myself. I accepted the fact that I’d stay in a minimum wage job for the rest of my life.
My school experience before DV was horrible. I couldn’t see a successful future for myself. I accepted the fact that I’d stay in a minimum wage job for the rest of my life.
When I came to DV, I was really stubborn and still thought there was no future for me and I had no idea why the teachers DV were insisted on helping me because I was never shown support by teachers before. It took a few months for me to come to believe that I had a future, and after I did some self-reflecting, I honestly blossomed. I sat voluntarily in the front row, I would stay after class to chat with teachers, teachers even became genuine friends. I could go on and on… DVFriends really gave hope to me and to my family. To this day, I talk about my high school experience as being one of the most transformative because of my teachers.
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?
The teachers who helped me extensively when I came to DV were Deb Madonna and Sam Steinberg. Deb was the first teacher I had who genuinely cared so much about how I did in class. She really transformed my view of school as a whole. Sam was the first teacher who helped to make history and social studies click in my brain and I became so interested. I had his class in 8th grade and then again in high school. He was amazing and his R.U.N (Read, Underline, Notate) technique was a lifesaver (someone in college actually copied my notes because they were so short and to the point). The teachers at DV also taught me how to self-advocate. I was a squeaky wheel in college -- especially freshman year -- asking for my accommodations. Teachers at DVFriends always pestered me to ask for what I need and I take that technique with me everywhere. Having a computer in school also really got me prepared for college. So many students are given a laptop or pay for a laptop and have no idea how to use it when my laptop is FILLED with programs to help me stay organized and help with my spelling like Evernote, Grammarly, etc.
The teachers who helped me extensively when I came to DV were Deb Madonna and Sam Steinberg. Deb was the first teacher I had who genuinely cared so much about how I did in class. She really transformed my view of school as a whole. Sam was the first teacher who helped to make history and social studies click in my brain and I became so interested. I had his class in 8th grade and then again in high school. He was amazing and his R.U.N (Read, Underline, Notate) technique was a lifesaver (someone in college actually copied my notes because they were so short and to the point). The teachers at DV also taught me how to self-advocate. I was a squeaky wheel in college -- especially freshman year -- asking for my accommodations. Teachers at DVFriends always pestered me to ask for what I need and I take that technique with me everywhere. Having a computer in school also really got me prepared for college. So many students are given a laptop or pay for a laptop and have no idea how to use it when my laptop is FILLED with programs to help me stay organized and help with my spelling like Evernote, Grammarly, etc.
Do you have any special memories of your time at DV? Favorite classes, teachers? Sports, activities?
I loved playing soccer - I miss it every day and still talk to friends from DV about it. I did the cross country skiing ABLE trip twice, and I had a ton of fun. The free trips really were awesome for me. I really enjoyed how teachers were involved in the clubs. It was cool clubs could also be formed with just 3 students interested - that definitely encouraged creativity. The annual Arts Festival was really cool it was an amazing opportunity for these quiet kids to embrace a talent they had no idea about or were too self-conscious to try before DV.
I loved playing soccer - I miss it every day and still talk to friends from DV about it. I did the cross country skiing ABLE trip twice, and I had a ton of fun. The free trips really were awesome for me. I really enjoyed how teachers were involved in the clubs. It was cool clubs could also be formed with just 3 students interested - that definitely encouraged creativity. The annual Arts Festival was really cool it was an amazing opportunity for these quiet kids to embrace a talent they had no idea about or were too self-conscious to try before DV.
What do you think is the lasting value of a DVFriends education?
DVFriends has so many qualities and characteristics as a whole but deep down, the school is built on welcoming the kids who are pushed aside just because they are viewed as different. DVFriends takes the time to not only educate children in Orton Gillingham but builds children back to their true potential.
DVFriends has so many qualities and characteristics as a whole but deep down, the school is built on welcoming the kids who are pushed aside just because they are viewed as different. DVFriends takes the time to not only educate children in Orton Gillingham but builds children back to their true potential.