National Adult Literacy Database

April 13, 2009

This week, we have a story by Grace Kirton, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Grace’s spiritual name is Morningstar. She likes to use this name whenever she shares her story. She started telling her story when she took part in Literacy Partners of Manitoba (LPM)'s Learner Speakers' Bureau.  When she took part in this, she had spoken on behalf of literacy to a variety of audiences - large and small. Grace even flew to Flin Flon to help with speaker training in the north. She is now enrolled in classes at the Aboriginal Community Campus.

Story

by Grace Kirton

My life is at a stand still right now, because I am scared to submit my application for sponsorship to attend a one-year addictions community service worker course at a college that has already accepted me. This is something I have wanted to do all my life.

My application consists of four parts: a resume, a biography, a job availability search and my education records. A resume that has no work history and an education record that shows that I quit will not look good for me. That makes my biography a very important factor and there is a wall in front of me about doing it because I am not a good writer.

I have to write it exceptionally well to show my sponsors that my life history makes me a good candidate and a good investment in our community. I don’t want to have to be a barkeeper and waitress for the rest of my life. I am realizing that I need to do whatever it takes to obtain my real goals. I know this course is right for me.

[This story was taken with permission, from Write On!, Spring/Summer 2006, published by LPM.]