National Adult Literacy Database

September 6, 1999

Ken is a learner from the Learners Speakers Bureau in Manitoba.

 

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Ken Gesell's Story

by Ken Gesell

I am a happily married thirty-five year old male. I currently attend night classes twice a week at Lord Selkirk School to obtain my GED.

On a hot day in July of 1963, a baby boy was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I grew up with two older brothers and one older sister. Growing up in Winnipeg and attending Windsor Park Collegiate, I never graduated. At the beginning of Grade twelve, one of my brothers passed away, accidentally. This left me devastated a week before school started. I attended Grade twelve for about three months at which time I dropped out.

Not having graduated with a Grade twelve education puts limits on what job I could apply for. I worked a few different jobs from gas jockey to sheet metal work. My current place of employment is J.M. Schneider's. I've been working there for the last twelve years and job security isn't too good right now. There's been talk of a wage roll back following the Maple Leaf example. A roll back of any amount will make it difficult to support my six year old son and wife. This is why I have been attending night classes twice a week at Lord Selkirk School.

Once I obtain my GED this will allow me to apply for a different variety of jobs that require GED or a grade 12 diploma. My goal is to eventually go to school to take computer networking.