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A Personal Reflection on Our Remarkable Students

A Personal Reflection on Our Remarkable Students

March 27, 2026

Aloha Assets 'Ohana,

I used to write a weekly blog about activities and issues related to Assets. Weekly then became more sporadic. I really enjoyed writing these stories but “retired” several years ago. Part of my decision was related to my schedule and some of it was an acknowledgement that I wanted to create space for other people at our school to write newer, different, and more interesting stories about our place from their corner of our community.

I am not sure what it was, but inspiration struck me the other day and I felt the urge to write again. Specifically, I wanted to write about all the wonderful student efforts that are happening right now. The high school robotics team just finished their season. The K-8 school play is about to lift the curtain, which has been a massive undertaking of students, faculty, and parents. We are after Spring Break so officially in “end of year” season, which I love. While some find it chaotic, I enjoy the reflection it brings and all the culminating events - the plays, Senior Showcase, Mentorship Expo, Arts Night, and Graduation.

But then a national news story threw itself on our doorstep. Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and widely believed candidate for president in 2028, spoke openly about his life with dyslexia. President Trump responded by saying “a president should not have learning disabilities” and called Newsom “dumb.” National newspapers and news networks covered the story and nonprofits like the National Center for Learning Disabilities came out with statements. Several people reached out to ask if I was going to respond. At that time, no. We have so much going on at Assets and in Hawaii right now. I am weary of most “official statements” these days, and I felt confident that as adults we understand President Trump makes news everyday with things he says, the news cycle moves at a blistering pace, and that he and Gov. Newsom and have been engaged in political trolling of each other for a while.

Then I woke up yesterday morning and, before I left to help other parents unload the moving truck and set up the Hobbit stage for the play, I glanced at the news. At a cabinet meeting, President Trump doubled down and said, “I don’t want a person with mental disability to be my president.”

So here I am, writing. Not an official statement so much as a personal one, from someone with deep admiration, gratitude, and respect for our school and the children who attend.

This is not about President Trump or Gavin Newsom, who obviously have their own dynamic. I meet a lot of people who want to be sensitive but do not know how to speak about dyslexia and learning differences. More importantly, I want to stand tall and speak clearly for our students, whom we love and know are brilliant. We talk a lot about advocacy at Assets and our students deserve to hear us speak our truth and stand for reality. And I know that when I write to the Assets community, I’m preaching to the converted. But most of us don’t go to church or temple to convert the hearts and minds of others - we go to fill ours.

Let's start with what we know. Dyslexia is a specific learning difference rooted in the brain's structure and wiring, not in a child's effort or intelligence. It has nothing to do with parenting or laziness. People are never "cured" or simply grow out of it, but with consistent, research-based instruction, people with dyslexia can become strong readers. Many find assistive tools that help them do their best work. We know famous dyslexics in Hollywood and the business world, like Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, and Charles Schwab, but the reality is that people with dyslexia have reached the heights of all fields. In fact, I wrote years ago about a U.S. President having dyslexia and how he changed the State of the Union speech protocol.

I’ve always been less interested in the “famous people with dyslexia” than I am the everyday brilliance I see at Assets. Our children are so creative. They are also the most courageous people I know. Think about the perseverance it takes to come to school every day and try again to improve your reading and writing, when we know it’s neurobiologically difficult. I also find our students to be deeply empathetic. They know about struggle, self-doubt, and dedication in ways that many other children their age do not yet. This ultimately is a gift that will serve them well. And as parents and teachers, we can also endorse that many of our children are wonderfully, energetically alive. Sometimes they even energetically find creative ways to disrupt us! But the truth is they often go deeper into their passions, explore their talents fully, and are eager to make a positive difference in their world. The world needs people who process it differently if we hope to solve the problems that traditional thinking has passed to us.

I don't know who will be president in 2028. What I do know is that the qualities I see every day in our students - creative, intelligent, persistent, courageous, optimistic, energetic, empathetic - are exactly the qualities we should be looking for in anyone we trust with leadership. We should be so lucky to have our children lead and care for us in the future. These kids are the best of us. They always have been.

For our children and their brilliant minds, always,
Ryan

 

 

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