National Adult Literacy Database

November 6, 2006

The following story was written by Mary French, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Mary attends The Salvation Army STEP Program in Winnipeg.

How do people handle their problems?

by Mary French

How do people handle their problems? Some of them talk about it. Some of them cry. They go for walks. Sometimes it is hard to deal with a problem. I would like to know who knows what a problem is. Everyone in the world has problems. There are places out there that will help a lot of people. But do they know where to go for that help.

When a problem happens, I turn to the people I know that have the same problems. I listen to what they are saying to me and tell them how I feel about what they said to me. And I keep in touch with some of those people.

What advice should I give to them? I tell them that I watch the news, and that is how I find out about what is going on. The world has a lot of problems. I also look at my friends with a lot of problems, and some of them need a lot of help with their problems.

That is what I want to do, is to become a counselor to help them with their problems. When I was growing up my mother and father had a lot of problems. My sisters & brothers have problems too, so when I sit down and listen to what they say to me they are happy when I help them with their problems.

What I would do is write down their problems. I would sit down and talk to them about how I can help them. It will take me awhile to achieve what I want to do, but I will get it done.