Home Personal Dyslexia Stories From Learning Differently to Serving Others: Adelle Tan’s Journey to Medical School

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From Learning Differently to Serving Others: Adelle Tan’s Journey to Medical School

“Just because you’re not going at the same pace as everyone doesn’t mean you won’t eventually succeed in your own way.”

For many children with dyslexia, school can feel like an uphill climb. Lessons move quickly, reading takes longer, and it can be easy to wonder why learning seems to come more naturally to everyone else.

For DAS alumna Adelle Tan, those feelings were all too familiar.

Today, however, Adelle is preparing to begin a new chapter at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, where she hopes to become a doctor who serves with compassion and a heart for others. Looking at where she is today, it is hard to imagine that reading and spelling were once some of her biggest challenges.

Discovering Her Own Way of Learning

Growing up with dyslexia meant that learning often required more time and effort than it did for her classmates.

“Every time I learned a new concept in school, I found myself struggling with the teacher’s explanation and taking a longer time to understand,” she recalls.

Rather than giving up, Adelle gradually learnt that she needed to find approaches that worked for her. She sought consultations, broke complex concepts into smaller steps and experimented with different study techniques until the learning finally clicked.

“It really helped to keep asking questions and trying until it made sense to me, instead of simply using methods that worked for others.”

Over time, she realised something that changed her perspective entirely.

“Disappointment can serve as a form of redirection, and meaningful results take time to reflect constant effort.”

Building Confidence Through DAS

 

Adelle joined the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) at just six and a half years old and continued receiving support for eight years.

Looking back, she credits early intervention as one of the key reasons she was able to build a strong academic foundation.

“DAS equipped me with resources tailored to my learning needs. Early intervention really helped me become more confident in school and take charge of my own studies.”

She also remembers the encouragement she received from her Educational Therapists.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child. I owe so much of my progress to the Educational Therapists at DAS, who motivated my love for learning and encouraged me to persevere through every struggle.”

Rather than viewing dyslexia as something holding her back, Adelle gradually saw it differently.

“Dyslexia is not my Achilles’ heel. It has become the driving force behind my perseverance, creativity and curiosity.”

Learning to Love Learning

As Adelle grew in confidence, so did her achievements.

In Secondary school, she received the Mother St Charles Award for all-round excellence in academics, leadership and co-curricular activities. She also served as President of the CHIJ Concert Band, led fundraising art projects, and emerged as one of her school’s top performers for the GCE O-Level examinations.

One achievement remains especially meaningful to her.

“I was really proud to be first in Pure Literature for my Preliminary Examinations because it showed me how far I had come in learning to enjoy reading and writing.”

She later achieved 44 out of 45 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) while balancing leadership roles in Student Council and her school’s Dragon Boat team.

This year, Adelle received an offer to study Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

A Heart to Serve

For Adelle, success has never been measured solely by grades.

During an internship at St Andrew’s Adult Home, where she worked with adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability, she discovered a passion to serve others through healthcare.

“I want to become a doctor who serves with compassion and empathy.”

She also hopes to continue advocating for early intervention and supporting DAS, believing every child deserves the opportunity to receive help early.

“I’ve seen how important early intervention is. I want more children to receive the support they need.”

Her Advice to Students with Dyslexia

To students who may be struggling today, Adelle offers this encouragement:

“Sometimes the hardest part about dyslexia isn’t the learning difficulties—it is choosing to keep trying and finding joy in learning. No dream is too big, and your grades don’t define you.”

For Adelle, dyslexia was never the end of her story.

Instead, it became the beginning of a journey that shaped not only her academic success, but also the resilience, empathy and sense of purpose she hopes to bring to a career in medicine.

Whether you are a parent or a past DAS student, if you have a story to share, reach out to us at [email protected]

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