National Adult Literacy Database

July 2, 2012

This week, we have a story written by Paulette Munn, from Boiestown, New Brunswick. Paulette is one of the winners of the Writing Contest 2012 – How is Continuous Learning Making a Difference in Your Life?, hosted by the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB). She is enrolled in literacy classes at the Boiestown Nova Adult Learning Centre.

Story

by Paulette Munn

Hi my name is Paulette Munn and I would like to tell you my story. When I first started school the teacher would not help me to read. I lived with my aunt, she could not read, so she could not teach me to read. So I could not get anyone to help me. I could not go to school so I quit in grade three.

I went to work babysitting for my father’s sister. They never knew I could not read because I could read out of a cook book. When they found out I could not read they asked me how I could read from a cook book. I told them God gave me a special gift because I love to cook.

I wanted to read so badly, so I asked my friend if she could teach me to read. She said she would help me learn to read. I told her I did not want to have anyone else there when I was learning. She said it would be just her and I. So I went to her home. It was suppose to be one on one but her husband was always there. So I stayed for one week. I called her and told her I was not going back. She wanted to know why and I told her.

When I was twenty years old I went to try and get my drivers license. I went to talk to the man who gave the test and asked him if he would read the book to me. He wanted to know if I was able to read. I told him I could not so he told me to come back down the next week. He read the questions to me, I answered the questions and I got my license. I wanted my license because I had kids and if they got sick I could take them to the Doctor by myself.

Now I am sixty two years old and I wanted to go to school. So I went to my church and asked my Pastor if I could go to school. He is the teacher for GED in Boiestown. The class is held at my church. I told him I wanted to learn to read and to do math. He told me yes you can. So I started on November 17, 2010.

I never new how much I would like to go back to school. I love it so much. I want to get my GED some day. I have been attending school for a year and a half now. I have worked from a grade three level and now I am working on some of the grade nine work. Soon I hope to start some of grade ten work.

I cannot believe how much I can read and spell. I can not wait until the day I get to graduate and I get my GED. I am excited to get my diploma and show everyone what I have done for myself. It is not for them, it is for me. I want them all to know that I did not go to school for them but for me. I cannot wait until I get my diploma so I can show my two brothers and five sisters that I did graduate and get my GED when many said I could not do this. I am going to have a big party so that everyone can come and celebrate with me on my success.

[This story was taken with permission, from the Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick (LCNB) website, under Learners’ Stories.]