National Adult Literacy Database

January 12, 2009

This week, we have a story written by Cindy Voudrach, from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Cindy is a parent, a worker and a student.  In 2006, she won the Premier’s Council of the Federation Literacy Award. This award is presented in each province and territory, and recognizes outstanding achievement and excellence in literacy.

Story

by Cindy Voudrach

I'd just like to encourage people to go back to school and tough it out, to stick it out because it's going to be better for them in the long run. It's important because - you know - you're the only one that's going to provide for yourself. Nobody else is going to get up and go to school for you, nobody's going to go out and work for you.

I know a lot of people up here because of the financial issues, the cost of living and stuff - they tend to drop out but they need to get that developmental studies program.

They need to complete it in order to move up higher into other courses like access programs and diploma or certificate programs. They need to get that ABE done. They need to get it over with.

[This story was taken with permission, from The Northern Edge, Issue 6 (2008) published by NWT Literacy Council. This online newspaper contains stories by learners, as well as articles about the North.]