I didn't care for school at all. I found the discipline, teacher's
expectations and pressure from the other kids hard to take. Learning took me a
long time. I was dyslexic and very disorganized. I couldn't get my ideas on
paper and the letters weren't formed properly. Of course I also had a real "attitude"
.
I'll admit that! My parents were very loving and caring. After grade six they
sent me to a private school. I attended until I was 15, then dropped out. I
wasn't very scholastic but I also had low self-esteem. School was not a good
experi ence for me.
This is the first place that I've ever put my nose to the grindstone. I
have this program to help me on my way to something bigger and better in my
life: college, then a career. What makes this program work for me is the
flexibility. I'm constantly shuffling people's needs and time often seems like
the biggest obstacle in my life. Something else that is important is the
one-to-one relationship with the instructor who takes time to explain things
without making you feel like an idiot. I'm able to stand up for myself in a
positive way and discuss things in class on an adult level.
The turning point in my life was after my son was born. I wanted to help
him with his school and his life. It was important to me to be a good 'example.
Now I have a goal. I worked for a year in a high school as an aid to a
mentally disadvantaged girl. Working with this type of person has always
fascinated me and never been intimidating. I have applied for the
Rehabilitation Service Program at Mount Royal College so that I'll have the
qualifications needed for this work.
