National Adult Literacy Database

January 7, 2013

The story below was written by Gordon Hope, from Huntingdon, Quebec. Gordon is enrolled in literacy classes at the Huntingdon Learning Centre. He is a recipient of the Canada Post Literacy Award (2007) for Individual Achievement.

My Journey to the Learning Center - Part 3

by Gordon Hope

I also had computer courses which were given by Nickie. My neighbour gave my wife a screen and keyboard for a computer, then a little later I bought the computer and with the help of one friend who is a computer specialist we got it going so I was able to practice what I learned in school. I now have some computer skills; I work with Microsoft Word and Excel program, change my desktop and screensavers, clean my disk drive and send Email to my brother and another friend who works on a ship. I like to surf the net for medical problems, plants, animals and research for stories that I write.

Other great events at the Learning Center which were very interesting were: two students that came to talk about their experience in Nicaragua: the way they built a school and how the people live there. We also had a veteran that came to speak about his training and experience going to world war two. His job was building bridges, finding mines to deactivate them.

We had some activities: we had a pumpkin decorating contest; a consumer group came and gave us advice on how to make a budget and protect our rights; there was a lunch and gift exchange at Christmas and we played bingo. We learned to make chocolate Easter eggs, ducks and rabbits. One day Roger took us to the Ormstown Career Center's open house, they displayed landscaping projects, carpentry, technology courses and health care. The Center also had a recreation day: the students prepared a social luncheon, played darts, shuffleboard and poolat the Huntingdon Legion. We watched a couple of documentaries and movies and also went bowling.

I really enjoy coming to the Learning Centre; it gives me more confidence in myself, I am able to express my opinion on different subjects and sometimes use a little humour. I enjoyed meeting new people from other counties such as El Salvador, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Senegal. I learned about their weather, customs, activities and' their working experiences.

Another important benefit of going to the Learning Centre is being able to help my wife with her Challenger, book, she only had grade one or two; she didn't have a chance to go 'to school any further (because of her nervous condition. Now today she has two certificates: Challenger one and two.)

My message to all the young people in school is: do not drop out because school is an important part of life. If you want to be a doctor, a nurse or have any other kind of job or career you need your degree. As you read this you can see all the benefits I gained from coming to the Huntingdon Learning Centre; you are never too old to learn.

Part 1 | Part 2