As a second-grader Ann Arbor's Annika Helber was told that her dyslexia was so severe that she'd never be able to read past the fourth-grade level. College was certainly out of the question.

Indeed it wasn't until her senior year at Dexter High School that Helber was able to move entirely beyond special education coursework and take a "normal" schedule.

For Helber, it's been a long fight against dyslexia, and when she enrolls at Grand Valley State University in the fall, she'll pursue an education that will enable her to help other learning-disabled students reach their potential.

Helber attributes her success in fighting dyslexia to hard work and plenty of talented, supportive teachers. Save for a four-year run at Dexter, Helber's educational path hasn't been linear. In eighth grade Helber attended three different schools, including a one-on-one tutor in Birmingham.

Dexter High School's learning center and small class sizes helped Helber finally get back on the mainstream track this year. Helber's senior year at Dexter was the first time since childhood that she didn't take any remedial courses.

But even before that breakthrough, Helber took a keen interest in special education students. She started the process of giving back by doing an independent study and working closely with special needs students.

"It's tough," Helber said of working with students with challenges. "But when you are able to help teach someone a skill - when you can help someone become more independent - that's very rewarding." Helber often dedicated her lunch hour to the special needs students, and helps them with gym class. Helber understands that special education, as a career field, is a roller coaster ride of tough days and occasional bright spots. But she wants to do it anyway.

"Annika exemplifies a citizen who gives unselfishly to members of our community who are often left out," Cheryl Wells, Helber's mentor and the science chairperson at Dexter High School, said.

Helber was also part of the "Cat's Meow" program at Dexter. Cat's Meow speaks to elementary school classrooms, trying to spark an interest in science among the young minds.

Just as individual attention translated into results at Dexter High, Helber believes Grand Valley is the right environment. The university has been accommodating from the start, Helber said.

"Grand Valley really understood where I was coming from," Helber said, adding that the university waived her foreign language requirement because of her extreme difficulty learning languages.

"I don't feel like I'll just be a number there," Helber said.

Helber said that she'd probably like to teach older students, perhaps high school age.

At Dexter, Helber worked closely with special needs students, some of whom suffer disabilities much more severe than hers.

"I want to spent my career doing this work," Helber said. "I've always wanted to be a teacher."

That's because she's seen firsthand how a young person's life and prospects can change with the benefit of a supportive environment.

James Dickson can be reached at JamesDickson@AnnArbor.com.