National Adult Literacy Database

February 20, 2006

This story was written by Kelly McDonald, from Barrie, Ontario. In her spare time, Kelly likes to do candle-making and to take long walks. She often takes walks with her four year-old stepson. He is the reason that Kelly enrolled in literacy classes. This story won first place honours in the Laubach Literacy Ontario (LLO) writing contest in 2005.

My Life

by Kelly McDonald

This has been my life. I struggled all through school but I graduated from grade 12. However, all through school I bullied people to do my work so I could pass the grade and move on. I tried to ask for help but no one would help me. They just put me down.

After I finished school, I started working and it was fun. I did easy jobs that I did not have to read or do math. I first worked at a childcare provider and then at McDonald's. I also worked at Zeller's. When it came time to do the WHMIS testing, I did not know how to do it and I asked for help. They gave it to me but made me read out loud in front of people walking by. That made me feel so embarassed and as little as an ant. That experience made me leave the workplace.

So I was then out of a job. When I met James, he had a little boy named Austin who was 3 years old. Austin asked me to read a story to him and I said yes. When it came to a part in the story I could not read, I made up the story and he said, "That's not how it goes. Can you read it to me right?" Again I felt like a little ant because I could not even read a kid's book to him.

All my life I have wanted a good job that pays good money so I can live happily. Last year (2004) as I was driving down Dunlop St., I heard on Barrie Beat 101 that a Road to Reading festival was going on. I asked James if I could take Austin to the festival. James said, "Yes, but can I come too?" It was there I learned about the Barrie Literacy Council. The information that I got helped me make up my mind about coming to the council. When it was time to go for my assessment interview, I couldn't read the signs to get to the office. So I called on my cell phone and they guided me with the directions. When I got there I met some nice people and they set me up with a tutor. Over the period of a couple of months, my tutor has helped me improve so much on my spelling and my reading and math. I have worked through Challenger 1 and 2, and am currently working on Challenger 3.

Now I can read to Austin. I have also taken on the student group. I organize and plan the meetings, run them and make the dinners for them. Coming to the Barrie Literacy Council has built my confidence and self-esteem so much that I can now talk to the new tutors and help them understand how we learn and how we struggle with things. I used to be shy to talk to people and to ask for help. Now I can talk to people and tell them about my life, and how difficult it is to live without reading or math skills. They will probably never understand completely how I feel, until they go through it themselves or help someone that cannot do it on their own.

This makes me feel like I can take on the world - but I know I can't. However, coming to the Barrie Literacy Council has made a big change in my life. Being a bully does not make you feel good inside or help people; rather it makes people feel badly. Now people see the real me, someone who is eager to learn and wants to help others. People that knew me before say what a great big change they have noticed. My mom and dad see it too. I can't stop thanking the Barrie Literacy Council for giving me the opportunity to learn and to have a chance at a successful life.

Thanks so much to the Barrie Literacy Council.

[This story was taken with permission, from the Barrie Literacy Council website, under Student Writings.]