National Adult Literacy Database

November 15, 2010

This week, we have a story written by Beverly MacKinnon, from Edmonton, Alberta. Beverly is enrolled in the literacy program at P.A.L.S. in Edmonton – Project Adult Literacy Society.

Story

by Beverly MacKinnon

Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am very proud to be here today and was quite excited when PALS asked me to speak to you.

When I was growing up, I felt different from the other children in my classes. I didn’t know if it was because I was the middle child of six children or I there was something physically wrong with me.

Growing up I felt unsure about school. I really enjoyed going to school, but I didn’t know how to read or write and math was hard too.

I could do the work when I got a friend to read it to me. She could read English but was Chinese and didn’t understand what she was reading. I could understand what she was reading, but couldn’t read it. We worked as a team to cope in classes. I was always put in special classes. I went as far as Grade 10, but I still could not read or write and found it was hard for me to put my thoughts down on paper.

I only had 2 friends growing up. When I was a teenager, I would sit back and watch people. If I felt that they wouldn’t laugh at me, I would be able to say what I had on my mind. I found that I had to get a sense about people before I decided if I could trust them or not.

Because of my problems with not being able to read or write, the only work I could get was physical work. When that became impossible because of an accident, I found out about P.A.L.S. There I learned to read and I now read a lot. I have learned to spell but I still find some words hard. Who doesn’t ??? I can put my thoughts down on paper, with help.

I have written children’s stories and poems and I hope to have them published one day. I am a co-writer of a story about myself and it was included in a book called ….. “Big Enough Dreams”.

I was honoured to read a poem by St. Francis of Assisi at a friend’s wedding . I have won a couple of Awards through P.A.L.S. and I have even nominated others for awards.

I have attended conferences hosted by different Literacy Centres and gave speeches at them as well These are all things that were not possible for me before P.A.L.S.

Because I have a daughter with a learning disability, I have had to be a voice for her. I could not have done that before I was able to read.

I feel more sure of myself, I am more open to people. I say what is on my mind and I am not afraid to make mistakes or learn new things. I feel so much more confident in doing things on my own now.