Surrell’s Goal: Win on the Field and Triumph Over Dyslexia

Jason Surrell is passionate about soccer. Lives it, loves it, considers it part of his total being. The sounds of the sport--the crash of a kick, the tap-tap-tap of the dribble--draw him to the field like a siren song.

Surrell, a senior midfielder at Irvine High School, wants to play in college and knows he has the ability. The college coaches tell him so. They come to his games, watch his smooth moves and tenacious defense. They call him an impact player.

And that’s what Surrell wants to do, make an impact. Not just on the soccer field, where he has gotten his kicks since the age of 6, but in the college classroom.

But therein lies the problem.

Surrell, a bright, upbeat 17-year-old, has dyslexia, an affliction that interferes with the ability to learn, retain and express language. The symptoms of dyslexia are wide-ranging, but generally it results in a difficulty in processing information--words, letters, numbers--in reading, writing or speech.

Dyslexia is something you are born with. It is not produced by a brain deficiency or an emotional disturbance. It is not an indicator of intelligence. Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein were believed to have been dyslexic.

But Edison and Einstein never had to take the SAT.

Surrell has already taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test once this year. He scored 690, 10 points below the minimum required by the NCAA for freshman eligibility. He plans to take it again Jan. 25. He has the date marked on his calendar.

There are often a couple of college scouts at Surrell’s games. Even though he’s just 5 feet 7, 150 pounds, Surrell outplays most of the bigger, stronger forwards he guards. Last week, he was named best defender at the Irvine Invitational tournament. A year ago, he was a first-team All-South Coast League selection even though Irvine finished 1-17-2, 1-6-2 in league play.

The Vaqueros (5-1-1) are much improved this year, and Surrell hopes to lead them to a league title. He also hopes for a college scholarship, preferably to a Division I school. He thinks he can handle the level of competition.

But first he has to get there.

Some children with dyslexia have problems transposing words and letters. “Dog” looks like “god,” for example. Surrell does not have this problem. His dyslexia makes it hard for him to process information when reading or writing. Note-taking is never easy. Spelling is hit or miss. He’s able to sound out words when he reads, but has difficulty recalling supporting details or subtle meanings.

Still, Surrell’s a B student, thanks to hours of extra effort and tutoring. His 2.8 grade-point average ranks in the top half of his class. He knows he can make it through college. He knows his drive to succeed can overcome his limitations.

He’s not so sure about the SAT.

In the classroom, work is rarely timed. Math problems can be worked out at a comfortable pace. English essays can be written and rewritten before being turned in. But the SAT requires quick calculation, instant analysis. The clock is running. The pressure is on. It’s a dizzying experience for anyone, much less someone who must stop to focus on the meaning of every word and syllable.

Surrell says if he doesn’t score 700 or more next month, he’ll just try again. He smiles when he says it and shrugs. He’s not the least bit bitter about his dyslexia, doesn’t dream about being class valedictorian. He only wishes the NCAA would consider an individual’s background and work ethic rather than simply his test score.

“If you don’t have dyslexia and can’t score 700, then yeah, you’re probably not going to make it through college,” he says. “But I’ve already proved I can handle it. I’m passing college-level classes.”

There’s no question that he’s bright and self-assured. Surrell gave an oral presentation on dyslexia during English class last year, and urged the students with poor grades to consider that they, too, might be afflicted as are millions of others.

“A lot of kids have troubles. A lot just think they’re stupid,” Surrell says. “That totally ruins your self-esteem. You get to the point where you don’t even try anymore.”

Not Surrell. Soccer field or classroom, he pushes himself to the limit. That’s the way it should be, he says, affliction or not.

“I know it’s there,” he says of his dyslexia. “But I don’t think of myself as someone who needs special attention. Because in the real world, you’re not going to get that anyway.”

Which is why Brent Musburger’s about to hear from him.

Musburger, the ABC sportscaster, was recently seen on a cable television station, offering his opinion on soccer. He described the sport, Surrell says, as “about as exciting as watching grass grow.”

Surrell was furious. He immediately ran to his room and wrote Musburger a letter. In it, he suggested, among other things, that Musburger might understand sports other than football and baseball if he just made the effort.

The letter, written in pencil, is filled with grammatical errors and misspelled words. But Surrell hands it to a reporter with pride. His writing may not be perfect, but his message comes across perfectly clear.

You can hardly ask for more.

Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa or by calling her at 966-5847.