National Adult Literacy Database

October 29, 2007

The following story was written by Treldon T. James, from the Montreal area, in Quebec.  Treldon is originally from Trinidad. He is enrolled in literacy classes at Literacy Unlimited in Pointe-Claire. In 2007, he was given a Recognition Award for Adult Literacy, sponsored by a partnership of Quebec adult literacy and adult education organizations, in collaboration with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

L.U. Helps to Achieve Goals

by Treldon T. James

Back in Trinidad I did not remember much about school but I remember getting whipped. It also happened to me in St. Vincent. I hoped that it would be better in Canada, which it was, but damage was already done. I was attending school to be with friends but my mind was not in class. I was in and out of school so I missed a lot of stimulation and education.

I know I had a problem in reading and writing so I was looking for help. One day driving to work I heard on the radio about LU so I took down the number and I told my family about it. I called and came in for an interview. It took two tries to get a tutor. After I got my tutor everything went well. After three months I started feeling very comfortable in the work I was putting in with my tutor. That boosted my self-esteem to do other things, like reading to my daughter, buying a house, being more comfortable at work, reading bills, following instructions.

Something that I would never do is to pick up a book to read. Now I have that confidence to read a novel of one hundred and ten pages. Before I hardly knew my numbers, months, and days and now it flows perfectly. I feel comfortable writing cheques even with big numbers. I never liked writing before; that was my weak point but with my tutors help by pushing me I wrote an essay. This is just the start!

It has encouraged me to move on in life. I’m on that second level meaning less shy, and being more involved with people. My tutor is very \ flexible with our schedule. So to end this story off on a good note I will be with my tutor as long as it takes to improve myself.

[This story was taken with permission, from "2007 Recognition Awards for Adult Literacy - Submissions", published by the Centre for Literacy of Quebec.]