Lucien York
“Literacy is about advocating beyond just reading and writing, because literacy is so much more than that…it’s about developing the whole being.”
Who Am I?
Lucien became a World Literacy Foundation Youth Ambassador in 2022. He hails from the beautiful Caribbean Island, St. Kitts and Nevis.
At the age of seven, Lucien was diagnosed with one of the highest levels of dyslexia, which is a learning difficulty that affects how words and information are processed. On several occasions growing up, Lucien had to find courage within himself to face his peers and educators. He found it hard to be around those who only saw him as someone who was holding back the class, but Lucien developed courage, and this kept him going to school.
As Lucien got older, his dyslexia caused issues in his life and career, and he showed adaptability numerous times when working through these. However, Lucien developed a strong will and said his faith in God helped him to develop his courage, perseverance and resilience, allowing him to excel personally and academically.
What Am I Known For?
Lucien was featured as one to watch on the 25 Most Remarkable Teens of Saint Christopher and Nevis and received an Honourable Mention at the ‘2022 Change the World – Model United Nations’ and a 2022 World Civility Icon award.
In 2023, Lucien published his inspiring book “The Boy with Dyslexia and His Friend”, stating “…from not being able to read books, to writing books”. He donates some of the proceeds to the WLF as part of his commitment to eradicating illiteracy.
Lucien shows perseverance and resilience in his everyday life and always makes sure that he puts himself forward to work on projects that challenge his ability to read, so that he can help others. At times, Lucien has felt like giving up, but his drive to help others always spurs him on and gives him the determination to see a project through.
How About You?
What action could you take to benefit others?
What character strengths might you need to draw on?
Find out more about the great work done by The World Literacy Foundation here.
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
Lucien is inspired by many great people, including the wonderful Dr Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way”. If you would like to know more about Martin Luther King Jr., who inspired Lucien, please explore his story on the website.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
To explore how other people have used their character strengths to support them in life, please check out our Amazing Neurodiverse People resource.
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Photo: Reproduced with permission of Lucien York