Elizabeth Palacios: When a Diagnosis Sparks Growth
By: Diana Bello Aristizábal
The Downtown Doral Charter Upper School student nominated for the Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Awards is the lead character of a story of resilience and determination. Despite being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia at the age of eight, today, at 18, she has managed to overcome her limitations and even stand out in her community.
“I am a go with the flow kind of person,” says Elizabeth Palacios. She did just that when dealing with her diagnosis and transitioning from a small private school in Kendall to an international, bilingual school like DDCUS in the middle of eighth grade.
But, instead of being discouraged by her learning difficulties and literacy challenges— such as misspelling her name, putting her shoes backwards, or struggling to memorize sound letters—, she turned her diagnosis into an opportunity for growth.
“Because of my dyslexia, I didn’t learn to read until fourth grade, but I always knew I was capable of much more. I saw my classmates advancing ahead of me, and that made me wonder why I couldn’t keep up and whether I should be at their level,” says Elizabeth. She acknowledges that the support of her parents, teachers, therapists, and community, along with changing schools, was crucial to her success.
At just seven years of age, she took the initiative to practice active listening daily and to believe in her potential. “I realized that this was my foundation—sitting down, taking notes, and truly listening—something that is very difficult for someone with ADHD. After a week of genuinely listening, I told myself, ‘I can do this.’”
Even at a young age, what motivated her to train her listening skills was the dream of buying her parents a house, a goal that, given her achievements, is not so far-fetched. Elizabeth was accepted into the state’s Bright Futures scholarship program, Miami Dade College’s Presidential Scholarship, and Miami Dade College Honors College, a program she has already committed to.
This will allow her to earn an associate degree before transferring to a top university with a full scholarship.
“I always knew that in order to achieve that—buying my parents a house—I had to work hard. So, a big part of what I plan to accomplish in the future is for them because they gave up everything to come to the United States and have worked tirelessly since they were 16. In fact, my mother injured her back while working and now has a disability.”
In addition to practicing active listening, Elizabeth took on the most competitive courses early in high school beyond the regular curriculum (she is currently enrolled in five honors classes). She also joined her school’s rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which helps students excel in their chosen careers.
Tutors Connects
Of all her accomplishments as a student—including being part of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta—the project that excites her the most is Tutors Connects, an initiative she created at her school in September 2022. Inspired by the challenges she faced as a special education student, she launched the program as a school club.
The program provides free, personalized tutoring for students and has grown so much that it now helps not only DDCUS students but also residents of Doral and Hialeah Gardens. With locations at Santa Barbara Church in Hialeah and Midtown Doral Condominium 3 Association in Doral, the initiative has reached up to 22 tutors.
“Through Tutors Connects, I have seen how mentoring and one-on-one support can change lives,” said Elizabeth during the presentation of her book, Empowering Communities: A Comprehensive Guide to Tutors Connects. She wrote the book to ensure that her lessons learned extend beyond barriers and reach more people.
You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/