John had a secret. In 5th grade, he was only pretending to read.

John has dyslexia, which made learning to read a challenge. But with support from his special education teacher and The Shadow Project, he did it. Now he is a college sophomore and aspiring Army officer.

“Believe in yourself,” John says to kids with learning challenges. “The only one who knows your value is you.”

See his story through the years – with a special update shown at our Power of Potential Gala in 2026.

Click here to learn about our Reading Mentoring program, which empowered John with the tools and support to become a reader.

The Shadow Project envisions an education system that normalizes and celebrates learning differences, and supports every student to thrive in school. Learn more about our school-based programs for students with disabilities.