The Future - Now I Know Where to Begin
by Moise Chartier, Peer Tutor,
Timmins Friendship Centre

To the organizers, you did a great job, and I was honoured to be a part of this conference.

Although I am not an educated person, at no point did I feel inferior. In fact, my self-esteem is still growing. I am home alone now, but I am not lonely. All of you have become my family, and families stick together. We struggle through life day-to-day, sometimes apart in our home towns, but always together in our hearts. May the Creator guide and protect us until we meet again.

Before this weekend, I would be shy to ask questions. Big words confuse me. Many times, I would be frustrated, and think myself stupid. For whatever reason, now I realize that my "brain cannot process words with too many syllables".

Before meeting all of you, I would hold people of authority in contempt - teachers, doctors, government people - and, to be honest, I always will, but now I will search out the good ones, and apparently there are many. You have shown me this truth.

Now I can write my book. Before, I thought that good books were like puzzles, and should be hard to understand. I could never write like that. Might I suggest to those of you that can understand big words that you remember that the pen is mightier than the sword, and some of us bleed when they are used.

Evan Adams said so many things, but when he opened that book and read from it, he unlocked many doors to my mind. I can't see the page for my eyes are full of tears. Thank you, Evan, and I promise I will not burn out.

Of God, I hope for; Of man, I know of
Of love I trust in; Of truth, I bend to
Of time, I drink to, Of friendship I believe in
Of the future, I know not where to begin.
Now I do. Thank you.