National Adult Literacy Database

April 18, 2011

This week, we have a story written by Kelly Anderson, from Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Kelly has recently been enrolled in literacy classes at the Sioux Hudson Literacy Council. During a conference, she told the story of her very personal journey that she wrote about in the story below.

Kelly’s Journey (Part 3)

by Kelly Anderson

Here I was a 30 year old woman, no job, no education, no future as I looked from the outside in, wishing I had the things everyone else had in life. Not realizing I had the tools to help myself if I had just looked in the right places and asked for help along the way. As I stand here today and now realize why I never saw any of this? It was because I was not ready to see it and did not want any help from no one, as I thought nobody cared about me.

My proximity and involvement with the alcohol and drug world would once again attack me, in the form of three people, and I spent about a week in the hospital. Although, this time I had the support around me, I once again did not notify anyone about my whereabouts until I got home from the hospital. All the thoughts and emotions from the first assault came flooding back and all I could do was relive it in my mind and think about all the progress I had made. This is when I realized that I really had to change my life and could not go back to the place where I have struggled so hard to leave. It was during these last two years that made me realize what I had to offer the world. Through, all the heartache, tears, disappointments, triumphs and happiness I now find my self among people who care greatly about me and my life, and that they are right. I do have something to offer the world. I was a victim but now I know I am a survivor, and no one can take that away from me.

Through the help of Sioux-Hudson Literacy Council in Sioux Lookout and the EAGLE Urban Transition Centre in Winnipeg, I was able to regain myself and my life to fulfill a dream I never thought was possible. It was through their guidance, understanding, and belief in me that I could do it that made it all possible. Without their help in this transition in my life, I never would have begun my new life or became the woman I know today. I am now a Health Care Aide/Unit Clerk Graduate from the Urban Circle Training Centre.

Thank you for listening to my story.

Part 1 | Part 2

(This story was taken with permission, from The Spider’s Web, December 2009, published by the Ontario Native Literacy Coalition (ONLC).)