Episode #173
EP 173: Every Expert Said She Would Fail. She Made Dean's List Anyway with Michelle Steiner
What do you do when the people who are supposed to guide you keep pointing you toward a life that doesn't feel like yours? Michelle Steiner was diagnosed with a learning disability in kindergarten, and from that moment forward, she heard a steady stream of voices telling her what she couldn't do, where she couldn't go, and what kind of future she should settle for. From the teacher who pushed trade school to the professor who called disability accommodations cheating, Michelle's path to a bachelor's degree, a published writing career, and a 30-year writing community was anything but straightforward. What carried her through wasn't blind optimism - it was a quiet, stubborn decision to try without needing to know the outcome first. In this conversation, Michelle opens up about navigating a learning disability in a system that wasn't built for her, the moment a second-grade dinosaur story changed how she saw herself, and why reclaiming the narrative of her own life became the most powerful thing she ever did. She also shares what it's like to now work alongside students with disabilities, helping them find their voice and advocate for the support they need - sometimes by walking them to the teacher's desk herself. Michelle's story is a reminder that the chapters you never planned are often the ones that teach you the most about who you actually are. CONNECT WITH MICHELLE STEINERWebsite: https://www.michellesmission.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steiner7250/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.steiner.493966/ CONNECT WITH INTO THE UNKNOWNSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n2uAZM9TVx5lRJSwTdHATApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/into-the-unknown/id1696159081Website: https://www.swickmedia.com/podcast.htmlInstagram: https://instagram.com/pod.intotheunkonwnTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theaveragehistorianFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pod.intotheunknownIf this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it - and subscribe so you never miss a story.
