He was an awkward child and struggled a lot in school, in spite of his obvious skills. He was a poor reader – two years behind the students in his class and felt embarrassed to stand in front of his class to read.
His teachers accused him of not working hard enough, school administrators called him lazy, and his classmates bullied him.
During an interview, he described himself as a “nerd” and an “outsider.”
At the age of 12, while still a boy scout, he made his first movie. That’s how he dealt with the bullying – by making movies. This was his “cover-up.”
Because he excelled at making movies, he dropped out of college to accept an internship at Universal Studios. The rest of his story is in the history books.
Throughout the years, he overcompensated for his struggle with reading. When he was identified as dyslexic at the age of 60, he described that as being “the last puzzle piece to a great mystery that I’ve kept to myself.”
If you have seen the movies Jaws, E.T., The Color Purple, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, or Indiana Jones, you’ve witnessed the genius of Steven Spielberg at work. He is the maker of some of the most famous movies of all time.
Which other dyslexic celebrities do you know of?
Whoopie Goldberg, Jackson Pollack, and so many others! There are really so many.
Indeed! One way parents can build their dyslexic children’s self-esteem is by telling them about the many dyslexic celebrities in various industries.
Florence, powerful!!! I am stupefied to learn this about Spielberg. Keep sharing these stories!
Kebba, it’s amazing how many exceptional people are dyslexic. Knowing about these people will help dispel the discouragement many children feel when they struggle in school.
What an extraordinary man! So many times teachers say students are lazy only to find there is an underlying issue at hand. This happened to my daughter in her early school years and when she was 12 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor that grows slowly and usually isn’t found until 35-40 years old. Her’s grew quickly and that’s what caused her learning problems. What a hidden gift Steven had pushed to show others what he could do.
Yes, Martha, many extraordinary businessmen are dyslexic. It’s their innate creativity that pushes them to success, in spite of their challenges. Thank God your daughter’s brain tumor was discovered early. I pray that abundant blessings overtake her daily, as she enjoys every moment of her life.