National Adult Literacy Database

March 5, 2012

This week, we have a story from Brantford, Ontario. The author, Patricia Hopkins, has recently been enrolled in literacy classes at the Grand Erie District School Board Literacy and Basic Skills program in Brantford.

When one door closes another door opens

by Patricia Hopkins

I have always worked from the age of fourteen, not always at good paying jobs, but they were jobs just the same. I worked for a company called Incom Top Tape and Label for nine years. In two 2008 I quit that job take a job closer to home and because I was not happy there anymore. I worked for Mott Manufacturing for 6 months and was then laid off.

This is when the fun began, not! You have to file for unemployment which, if not done correctly, will cost you a great deal of time and some headaches. Dealing with the government is not an easy thing. If you don’t do things their way things can be very difficult for you. They have you over a barrel if you make a mistake because they control your money.

One good thing about being laid off this year is that the government has put a lot of money into the system. There is a program called Second Career. This program allows people who want to go back to school to change their careers, if they wish to. I have enrolled in this program. First, I had to figure out what I wanted to go back to school for. Then I had to start a paper trail. This in itself can be a daunting task. You have to get an appointment with Mohawk Assessment, this can take weeks. So, you’re in a hurry to wait. Once you go to that appointment and figure out what you want to do, you may need to upgrade your schooling. This can be a long process. There are a lot of people who want to see you succeed in what you do. That means a lot of people are behind you and supporting you.

Once you do your upgrading you have to apply at the college you wish to go to.

This can be a scary and confusing thing to do as well. Once you get accepted you’re on your way to a new career.

I will be attending the Literacy Council from June to December/09 as well as Adult Literacy and Basic Skills. This is to upgrade my spelling, writing and math. I did apply at St. Lawrence College for a Vet Assistant Program and was accepted. Three weeks later the college called me to inform me that the course had been canceled. This left me in a bind. I applied at Sheridan College as well but needed a grade 11 biology credit which I did not have. I tried to enroll at Mohawk College for a biology credit but was too late. I also enrolled in a correspondence course but found it difficult. Sheridan College sent me a letter offering a conditional acceptance into their program but I had to write a science test for them. If I passed I would be accepted. I wrote their test and passed! Now I’m going to college in January 2010 in the Animal Care Program, if I get approved through Second Careers.

Stay tuned…….

[This story was taken with permission, from Expressions E-Magazine, Fall 2009, a newsletter published by Laubach Literacy Ontario.]