National Adult Literacy Database

June 7, 2004

The following story was written by Barbara Glover, from Morell, PEI. Barbara was a student of the Morell Region Community Learning Centre Adult Education program with the PEI Institute of Adult & Community Education, Inc. Barbara spends her retirement creating watercolour paintings and taking photographs of her community. She is proof positive it is never too late to return to school! She has two sons and five grandchildren.

Thought About It, Asked About It, ... Did It!

by Barbara Glover

What led me to the following was the reading of the very informative Morell Matters which contains community news. When I came across the writing of an older person passing her GED, I thought, "That is something I would like to succeed in." I have always been disappointed about my education being pulled apart when I crossed the ocean at twelve years of age and had already finished first year high school.

I struggled every year just making "pass" marks and then in failing. I was told I had to leave school and look for a job. It wasn't that I didn't find my way. I did. I quit the job and took a four years in one commercial course and with good typing I was hired by IBM® and in the 1950's, that was something!

Still, I never made that grade 12 and never became a teacher. When I walked through the Morell High School doors the morning of March 13, 2001 to enquire if it was possible at my age to try for the GED, I was told "You are never too old to learn and you can start right away." My goal was made. I would go into the Adult Learning Center to study three days a week.

After my first week of study, lessons, and pretests, I found myself really enthused and uplifted. I looked forward each day to get to school before 9 o'clock. Yes, it was tiring and a little shocking to my system, but I looked forward to each day and even studied at home.

My instructors suggested I should write my GED April 10 and 11, but that was only one month. I lost that discussion, and on April 10 and 11 I sat in a classroom at a school desk in the high school, writing three exams each evening. It was one great experience in my life.

Some exams were harder than others, but I had been prepared very well by the staff at the Learning Center through the lessons and the many tests. I came away after writing the exams, thanked the instructors, and went home knowing I had done my best. The ones I did not pass, I thought, I could continue to work on. When I received my phone call that I had passed them all and my certificate would be in the mail, I just could not believe it!

Now I have a great feeling of accomplishment and am thankful to the staff for all their teaching, time, and patience. I did it! I have my certificate on the coffee table in a gold frame. I achieved another goal on the pathway of my life.

Thank you Morell Learning Center for the Adult Learning Class!

[This story was taken with permission, from I Did It, So Can You! : A Collection of Stories From Adult Learners of Prince Edward Island, p.22, published by the Morell Region Community Learning Centre.]