National Adult Literacy Database

November 17, 2003

The following story was written by Mathew, from Sarnia, Ontario. Mathew is 35 years old, is married and has one son. He is enrolled at Organization for Literacy in Lambton, Sarnia. Mathew is a factory worker and he is an outdoors person. His hobbies are hunting and fishing.

Mathew's Story

by Mathew

I'm a 34 year old who all his life has had to struggle in school. I never did learn how to read or write well. But then I didn't want to learn either. I had a hard life then.

At one time, I wanted to be a police officer but I knew that was not possible.

When I have to do the W.H.M.I.S.test I started to get nervous and feel panicky. Even when some friends want to play board games I feel the same way and I can see that my wife feels uneasy about it. Every time I turn around it seems like the government is coming up with new training courses.

But now I have a boy whose name is Cole. I'm very proud of him. That's when I knew I had to go back to school because I want him to be proud of me and not ashamed of me. My wife, whom I love very much, was looking through the paper and saw the ad for literacy for adults.

I wanted to call the first time she told me but I was too scared at that time and then, when I finally decided to call, we lost the ad.We went for a while before there was another one. And I still couldn't call. I made my wife call.

When I went they made me feel good and hopeful. I need one-on-one tutoring.

I would like to get a better job and be able to get more for my family like you would want for your family. I know it seems tight for government funding, but school is very important to me and all the other adults.We don't want to end up struggling all our lives.

Now it's been almost a year and I can see a difference. I still have a long way to go but as long as there is some one there to help me, I think I will make it.

Who knows, I might even graduate before my son.(Ha ha).

[This story was taken with permission, from Network News, December 2002, a newsletter published by the Tri-County Literacy Network.]