National Adult Literacy Database

February 13, 2006

This week, we have a story written by Celeste Ranahan, from Morell, PEI. Celeste is a native of St. Peter's who now resides in Morell. Celeste is married and a mother of three. Two of her children go to the elementary school just up the street and on most days they will stop down to their mother's class and spend the last hour of Celeste's school day doing homework alongside their mother.

Starting Over

by Celeste Ranahan

I never dreamed that I would be in the Adult Education program of Holland College. As far as I was concerned there was no need for me to be there. After all, I had graduated from grade 12 in 1986. I was the first person in my family, a family of 16 children, to graduate after 12 years of school with an academic diploma. I always knew that I would be going to college, but I wanted to work for a while first and have some time for me. After a few years of this, I was accepted into the Legal Secretary program at Holland College. I graduated from this in 1990. That was it; I was done of school.

Most of my work experience was seasonal work. I did do some temporary work in the legal secretarial field, enough to realize that this was not what I wanted to do. In order to pay my bills I worked in fish plants, at the mussels, and cooking in small canteens located on the wharfs in Red Head and Covehead. This would always give me enough "stamps" to draw unemployment. Eventually, I worked myself into an office job. Now this is what I had spent so many years in school for! Although the office work was also seasonal, it was still much nicer than standing all day in the cold.

Every year, usually in the fall, I would be laid-off from my job; this year was no exception. However, I always knew that come spring I would be getting my call that it was time to return back to the office for another season. This year when I received my lay-off notice, I was told that my job was not guaranteed in the spring. What a shock! Of course my first question was, "Is it my work that is a problem?" My supervisors reassured me that my work was fine, but they really needed someone who had some basic accounting skills.

Immediately I went to Human Resources to find out what was available to me. There are several schools I could go to to learn accounting and EI would pay a percentage of the tuition. That was great, but what about the rest of the tuition? That would have to come out of my pocket. I am married and have 3 children so there is not much extra money kicking around. I didn't feel that I could afford to take out another loan to pay for my share of tuition. This is where the Adult Education came in. I made a call to inquire about what they had to offer and was pleasantly surprised to find out they had an accounting course and it was free! Finally something I could afford.

I started my high school accounting course in November 2005. I know that I will not be an accountant when I leave here; I don't want to be. But, this course will give me the basic skills to hold onto my job, or to help me find a new one. While I am here, I am also upgrading my computer skills. Every little bit helps. So, my advice to anyone who is in a similar situation to me, go ahead and call; you will be glad you did.