National Adult Literacy Database

June 12, 2006

Ocean with her tutors Victor and Anthony (and friends!) at the Spring Garden Road Public Library National Volunteer Week celebration

This story was written by Ocean Longon. Ocean is 18 years old. Last year she got in a lot of trouble with the law and decided to turn around. She was unaware of how to deal with the professional world as opposed to the street world and taking part in the learning program helped her communicate with people easier. It also helped her realize what her own personal interests were, as well as get some decent employment.

Getting Going

by Ocean Longon

A couple years ago today
i was on my own down hill way
thought taking drugs was the best play
and there was no god for me to pray.

recently some trouble started
the kind that could get me departed.
locked up, or permanently damaged
it woke me up, i began to manage.

The learning program helped a lot
reminded me, what i forgot
brought me back to those school days
when my friends would copy all my pages.

Now that my life is getting going
I know there's no pain in you knowing
Thanks to the people who kept on showing,
No matter how far you are, there's room for growing.

Rachel, Victor, and Anthony
thank you all for helping me,
it’s appreciated greatly, and rightfully so,
without you guys, I'd still be in that hole.