I was held back until I was six years of age because I had a speech problem. Then I got to grade two and had a very troubled teacher who disliked boys. I was having visual problems, and I was very shy. Because of that I couldn't proceed to the next grade. I went thought grades 3, 4, and 5. At the end of grade six the school was not going to let me proceed to the next grade, but I was given an option to take a new program held at Horton High School. I only had a grade two literacy level when I was in grade six, so going through the 7,8 adjusted classes was very difficult for me, but I got through and made it to grade 9. Only three days into grade nine, I was told I had to write a composition and then stand up and read it in front of the class. I wasn't ready for this and ended up getting frustrated. I left school.
In the winter of 1991 I took the 40-hour course for preparation for G.E.D, but I found it very difficult and didn't try again for another nine years. Then in November 2001 I went and got tested to see what level I was at. I was lined up with a tutor and we worked together for a year. We used to meet in his truck because there was nowhere else to go.
I was asked if I would like to be tutored in a group of people or one on one and I chose one on one because I would be too nervous with a group. In Jan. 2003 I was matched up with a new tutor and we worked on the Laubach Way to Reading Books 2, 3, and 4 then the Voyager book for reading and writing also Focus on Phonics 1, 2, 3.
I took a test and was put in level 1 and then, I was moved to the level two classes. On Feb. 04, 2005 I had to quit the classes and find a job so I could support my family.
I wrote my G.E.D. in April 15 and 16, 2005 but I didn't pass. I kept on with my tutor two nights a week. In 2005 when I was on Unemployment they sent me over to the Valley Disability Partnership Society. I was tested for Dyslexia and I was diagnosed with Dyslexia
June 21, 26, 27 I wrote my G.E.D again, but this time with tapes so I could hear the words better and I passed all of them but one (the essay) - I missed that one by 10 points. So I started to get tutoring in that one subject Language Arts, Writing. I wrote that final exam Nov. 28, 2006, and passed it.
With my GED certificate I was able to get an interview with Michelin Tire, and on Feb. 12 2007 I was hired!