National Adult Literacy Database

November 23, 2009

This week, our story comes to us from Nanaimo, BC. The author, Shaun, is enrolled in the literacy program at Literacy Central Vancouver Island (formerly Literacy Nanaimo).

Story

by Shaun

To the Literacy Tutoring Program,

My name is Shaun______. I am 29 years old and I have a daughter named _______ who is 4. I live in ________ on the Mainland. I was incarcerated for stealing cars to support my drug habit. I was sentenced to 18 months and I am due to be released this October. On the outside I was on drugs since I was 12. I have never had a job and jail is the only time I have my own bed.

I volunteered to enter the program at Guthrie House because I wanted to succeed in life. I realize I need to change because I have been on drugs so long. I expected it to be hard, which it is. I was scared to come here because I didn’t know what I was walking into.

I applied for a literacy tutor because I knew the Guthrie program was a waste of time if I didn’t learn to read and write. Even though I got to Grade 8 in school, they always told me I was just a seat warmer. At Guthrie I completed Challenger 4 in less than 3 months, and I am working on Challenger 5. I have applied to continue my tutoring after my release.

Literacy tutoring helped with my program here. I can take notes now and don’t have to try to memorize everything. It also taught me how to do paperwork on my own. This is huge for me; before I had to use my mother. My communication is better. Tutoring made me remember other words. Now the words are coming back, making it easier for me to talk. My self-esteem is better. I was always down on myself because I couldn’t read or write.

I’m happy I can read and write, because all the time I thought I couldn’t. I feel good about myself. I never really liked myself before. Figured I was useless, good for nothing. I enjoy working on cars and machines and one day hope to be a mechanic.

[This story was taken with permission from the Literacy Central Vancouver Island Newsletter, September/October 2009, published by Literacy Central Vancouver Island.]