Celebrating Our 2025 EMPOWER U Scholarship Winner: Chloe Curran

We are thrilled to announce Chloe Curran as one of the recipients of the 2025 Right to Read EMPOWER U Scholarship! She is a 2025 graduate of Bartlett High School in Illinois and has recently begun her studies Michigan State University where she is majoring in Civil Engineering. Chloe has shown incredible strength, perseverance, and advocacy throughout her educational journey.

Chloe’s essay deeply moved our team of advocates. Her story highlights the challenges many students with dyslexia face - and the resilience and determination required to overcome them. She also beautifully reflects on how her mother’s advocacy inspired her to find her own voice.

We’re honored to share Chloe’s winning essay below.

Chloe Curran’s Scholarship Essay

I first found out I was dyslexic in 2016. Ever since my diagnosis my mom would constantly advocate for me, and she pushed to get an IEP for me. During elementary school I was removed from class for extra help for my dyslexia. Everyday after school I would talk to my mom about what we did in my “extra help” class and what I missed in the actual classroom. Often what I missed in class outweighed anything I received in the resource class. Our school had one qualified Special Education teacher, who was often on medical leave. When she was gone, the paraprofessional that replaced her had me tutoring other kids who were struggling more than I. During my Annual Case Reviews, my mom would stand up for me and my education and share how I was being held back by something that was supposed to be helpful.

When moving up in my education, I was provided with even less “help.” Still each year my mom and I would email my teachers explaining my disability and how it may affect me. Each year in my ACRs we would talk about any help I needed, and my mom would stand up for me. Knowing, seeing, and experiencing the fight my mom went through for me inspired me and still inspires me constantly to advocate for my education, for what I deserve, and for what I need to thrive.

In my third year of Spanish, I was struggling and decided to use what I learned from my mom to advocate for myself. I started using the tools given to every student. I studied YouTube videos, spent hours on Duolingo and went into school early to work with my teacher one-on-one. I remember one day in particular. I went into class at about 7:10 and sat down. I pulled out the sentences I wrote the previous night for her to look over. She walked over to me, read and corrected my sentences. There was a lot of red ink on that page. She then told me, “Chloe, I don’t know how to help you.”

No matter what I tried or how hard I studied, regular and special “help” never helped me, but I never gave up. Although I ended my Spanish journey with a C, I learned that I can advocate for myself, and I was proud of that grade. The help and tools given to me did not work, so I found my own way to fight. Witnessing my mom fight for me has forever changed my life and has taught me that just because I have this learning disability, it does not mean I deserve or can achieve anything less than my very best.

Moving Forward with Strength

Chloe’s determination to advocate for herself — even when traditional supports fell short — is exactly the kind of strength and leadership the EMPOWER U Scholarship was designed to celebrate. We are confident that her resilience will carry her through her college journey and future career in engineering.

Congratulations, Chloe! 💜