National Adult Literacy Database

May 27, 2002

This week, we are launching nine stories written by students from Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a special event, you can read some of the stories as well as hear them, with the audio player. The following stories were written by members of the Learner Speakers' Bureau, coordinated by Literacy Partners of Manitoba. These learners participate in different programs in the Winnipeg area. The stories from this year's Learner Speakers' Bureau graduates will be unveiled at the Winnipeg Learner Conference on May 29, 2002.

Note : The text versions that follow do not always match the audio version, because some people preferred to update their stories after the recordings.

 

Play an audio version of this story

Mavis Forslund's Story

by Mavis Forslund

Hi my name is Mavis. I'm from Open Doors Literacy Program at King Edwards School. In 1999, I decided to take upgrading at King Edward School. I was close and in the neighborhood at the time. My sister Darlene was attending there at the time and conviced me to go.

I knew I'd eventually wanted to do something with my life. In the meantime, I am attending Open Doors Literacy Program at King Edwards School.

I am hoping to complete my GED. I've had a couple of jobs while I was attending Open Doors Literacy Program at King Edwards School. None of the jobs will measure up to the one I hope I will have the qualification for after I have completed my GED and extra studies that I need.

While I was attending Open Doors Literacy Program, my eyes started getting bad and I didn't know why. Then I had to make an appointment to find out why. The doctor diagnosed that I was getting cataracts in both eyes. During this time, waiting to get this done, they kept getting worse. I felt so useless that I was wandering in the traffic and couldn't see, almost getting hit by cars, buses, and bigger trucks. I couldn't see anything.

Finally, I got a letter in the mail and getting my daughter to read it and telling me that I had an eye appointment to get the worse eye done in September 2001 and the other done in October 2001. I'll tell you, I was so happy to be able to see again and be able to continue my work on my own without any help. I do have a lot of catching up to do from the two and a half years of waiting, but I intend to do it and complete my GED.

Margaret, our teacher, was helping me out through this ordeal, and I thank her very much, and the other students in the class that helped me through this ordeal. Margaret is a type of person who will put things aside and help a person out as much as she can, as privately as possible. As I said, I thank her for all her help she's given me. I think this is the best adult course for anyone who ever decides to take it. I would recommend it to anyone who would like to go back to school, no matter what age you are. If you want help returning to school, phone 947-5757.