National Adult Literacy Database

April 21, 2003

The following story was written by Connie Brandner, from Prince George, BC. Since completing her Grade 12, Connie is doing upgrading so that she can get into an Accounting or Bookkeeping course. Some day, she would like to start her own business. Connie has a 9 year-old daughter.

Two friends on the way to a better life

by Connie Brandner

My name is Connie and I am a mother of a nine-year old daughter. My daughter and I moved to Prince George from Surrey. I decided to go back to school and get my Grade 12 when I had my first job here in Prince George. It was the worse experience of my life, working there. I was tired of dead-end jobs and being a salesperson.

The good thing about being on EI was the opportunity for me to get my Grade 12 and go to a college to become a Bookkeeper. I am very good with numbers. After doing a bit of research and overcoming my fear of people being like the place I had worked at, I started my upgrading. Well, the first couple of weeks I kept to myself. People were coming up to me and introducing themselves to me.That was when I met Nadia. Nadia was also tired of labour work and dead end jobs. She injured her back and had to leave the job. That was what made her decide to get her Grade 12 and become a Bookkeeper. Nadia is from Prince George and she is the mother of two daughters. The more we talked to each other the more we became friends. We had so much in common - like getting our Grade 12 and becoming Bookeepers and we had the same employment counsellor from Open Learning Agency whose name is Maria. We started to help each other and formed a bond of friendship. She would help me with English and I helped her with math because she had problems with math. Through hard work and struggle, we would help each other to the end. We finally made it and graduated. We are now looking forward to our next battle - another year of school and hardship - and we will help each other again. We have been friends now for a year and a half and after another year in College we will be friends 'til the end.

Thanks to Continuing Education for all the great things they have done for us ! Without the help of OLA, and if Continuing Education had not been there, we would not have graduated and we would not have met each other. We appreciate everything that was done for us. My only advice to everyone is that is never too late for your education. It is a great feeling to have your Grade 12 and have the oppportunity to continue for more training. In one year from now we can own our company. In addition, our friendship will blossom, thanks to the education system. There might be long nights studying and it might be hard on your families, but in the end it is worth it. We are both bettering our lives and our families' lives.

[This story was taken with permission, from Groundwork, Fall 2002, published by the Adult Basic Education Association of BC (ABEABC).]