For years, Shantavia Hall struggled with a learning disorder that often made her feel inadequate, isolated, and misunderstood.
Diagnosed with dyslexia in high school, and later with depression and anxiety, she grappled with feelings of being “slow” and even “dunce”, especially when classmates at university dismissed her or refused to work with her. But after years of setbacks, self-doubt, and quiet perseverance, Hall has found the drive to push through. Now 31, she’s just one semester away from earning her degree in psychology and criminology at The University of the West Indies, determined to use her journey to help others rise above their challenges.
“I’d be in my exams, and when I saw other students coming out while I was still struggling with the questions, I felt dunce,” Hall said candidly. “There were times people would say, ‘I don’t want her in my group’ because I was slower at completing assignments.”
Dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects the ability to read, write, and spell, made literacy a constant challenge for Hall. She recalled being diagnosed in grade seven while at Merl Grove High School after a teacher noticed she struggled with reading and comprehension compared to her peers. With support from her family, she pushed through and later advanced to sixth form at Oberlin High School.
But even as she appeared to be managing academically, the emotional weight of feeling different never truly went away. In 2016, at the age of 24, Hall was officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety, conditions she said were deeply connected to her lifelong struggles with dyslexia and persistent feelings of rejection.
“At a very early age, I started to experience a lot of depression, rejection, and abandonment,” she said. “Dealing with these mental health challenges made focusing in school even harder, and sometimes I struggled with thoughts of self-harm and suicide.”
The stigma around mental health and learning disabilities only added to Hall’s challenges. When she first started university in 2012, she failed her courses and was asked to withdraw. But in 2021, she returned with renewed determination.
“I didn’t give up. I knew I needed help, so I sought therapy, and I surrounded myself with people who believed in me,” Hall explained. A therapist in Montego Bay reassured her that she was not abnormal and provided coping tools that helped her heal. Hall has also found support at work. As a customer experience representative, she uses tools like Grammarly and leans on her manager for guidance, especially when tasks become overwhelming.
“I often have to ask my supervisor to review my reports before I submit them,” she said. “Sometimes I feel inadequate, but she’s always willing to help.” Hall also manages her university studies with a strong support network.
“I have classmates and co-workers who help me understand difficult topics and past exam papers. My manager is very accommodating and even helps me with statistics,” she said.
Interestingly, Hall chooses not to disclose her dyslexia to her lecturers because she does not want to be treated differently.
“I want to show that even with dyslexia, you can make it through the normal system and be successful,” she said.
She also told THE STAR that her passion for psychology and criminology stems from her upbringing in an inner-city community where she witnessed firsthand the psychological impacts of crime on young people.
“My goal is to work with the Ministry of Justice to understand and address the root causes of crime, which I believe are psychological,” she explained.
In addition to her studies and work, Hall is also an author. Her book, Sovereign Love: The Divine Hand in Our Relationships, explores self-love, healing, and preparing for healthy relationships through divine love – a message inspired by her own journey.
To anyone facing similar challenges, Hall advised them “trust the process”.
“In the moment, it may feel like the struggle isn’t for you, but everything you’re going through is preparing you for what’s ahead. I wouldn’t change anything about my journey because it made me who I am today and allows me to help others.”