What do you do when you are over forty, have a spinal injury from an industrial accident and are unable to return to the work you have done all your life? Richard Brolly is such a person. Richard made life decisions that at the time didn't mean very much, not completing school. The labour market was always willing to hire someone who could easily learn a skill and who could spend long hours on the work site. All seemed well until one day, a few years ago, when scaffolding on an uninsured work site collapsed and he found himself on the ground with broken thumbs, a fractured leg and two herniated lumbar disks. Without workman's compensation to fall back on Richard faced a huge problem; minimum education, and no option to return to his previous type of employment.
On the advice from the counselors at Futureworx, Richard decided to visit Robert MacLellan, Coordinator of Literacy and Community Learning for East Hants, and Hannah Mills, the Level II/III instructor at the East Hants Adult Learning Program. Hannah discussed Richard's learning situation and together they devised a program plan that would allow Richard to be "reprogrammed to focus my attention on meaningful employment and an end goal". Richard was given books on clear thinking and on how to pay attention. The personal intervention he received from Hannah has really impacted Richard; "She has turned me from a 'Flunky' and has given me a reason to want to get up in the morning and feel useful. Coming to school each day is like having your own tutor, who not only helps you understand but helps you develop into a productive and capable member of society".
Without workman's compensation to fall back on Richard faced a huge problem; minimum education, and no option to return to his previous type of employment.
"My math skills were obtained on the job site and I used a calculator to find the answer". Richard knew how to make the calculation but couldn't tell you what it meant. Through the guidance given and with the help of the other students, his math skill has improved dramatically as has his understanding of basic math principles. He knows that he also needs to work on English and Science to obtain a grade 12 diploma, but he is prepared to take the time and do the work that is required.
When asked why a grade 12 diploma was so important, he said that he sees opportunities open to him that just aren't there, even for someone who gets a GED. Back in 1975, when he left school, the same thing was told to him about the need for an education, but today when he looks back, he is overwhelmed with the thought that he now has to work so hard for something that could have been easily done in the; 70's. He sees himself continuing through the Adult Learning Program and then entering the Adult High School program. Richard is so thankful for the opportunity to learn that he wants to give something back to the community, like working with community groups to raise funds.
It is not only the injury and the lack of education that is a stimulus, Richard has another reason to be motivated to improve his education and that stimulus is his stepdaughter who recently completed her first year at NSCAD in the animation design program. His stepdaughters determination coupled with his experiences at the Nova Centre have dramatically changed how Richard views his life. He has embraced the learning experience and is more determined than ever to upgrade his education and obtain his High School Diploma.
All external links within this document were valid at the time of publication.
