National Adult Literacy Database

April 25, 2005

This story was written by Agnes MacDonald, from Montague, PEI. Agnes attends the Institute for Adult and Community Education at Holland College in Montague. She is the winner of a PEI Literacy Alliance Adult Bursary.

Returning to School

by Agnes MacDonald

Making the decision to return to school has been one of the most rewarding and gratifying experiences of my life. I have to admit I was afraid that I could not do the work.

My past experience with school had not been a positive one. Fear paralysed me and as a result I lost out on an education and a self-fulfilling career. Financially I had to settle for whatever I could get to make ends meet.

Then one day I had enough and wanted more and somewhere inside me I knew I could do more. I also knew that in order to fulfill my dream I had to return to school -- as scared as I was, I had to do it.

I was shocked to see such a relaxed yet professional atmosphere and even more surprised to hear my classmates share similar fears of school. It was comforting to know I was not alone. The instructors were great. I have never witnessed such dedication and patience. No matter how many times I tried to comprehend a problem and wanted to give up they never gave up on me until I conquered it. They not only have the gift of teaching an education but they also have the gift of recognizing and seeing through areas I could not see.

I have met wonderful people there and have developed many friendships. I have watched others work towards their G.E.D.'s and have listened to their fears, but they still obtained their goal. I had the privilege of seeing their excitement over their accomplishment. These are all lessons to me and reminders of my ability to do the same. Hopefully, I will achieve my goal and go on to take the Addiction Counselling Course.

I am truly grateful for this school and for those who believed there was a need for it. You have given me and many others a second chance.

[This story was taken with permission, from the PEI Literacy Alliance website, under Learner's stories.]