I grew up speaking Dutch. I went to school in Holland and at 15 I
finished and started working. It was easy to get a job. At that time it was
normal to work at a job for two or three years, then change. That's what I did.
That way I had a lot of experience.
At that time I wasn't really interested in continuing with school. My
parents didn't talk me into staying at school. Maybe if they had I would have
been a kindergarten teacher. That was something I was interested in. I would
have studied more if I'd had the encouragement. For me, it changed here in
Canada. I went back to school. Now I have a different outlook on life. I'm so
much more interested in different things, more curious.
When I was laid off my cleaning job in 1987 an employment counsellor
suggested I try AVC. So I went right to AVC to check what was available.
I started in the BEAD program and stayed for six months. The church
where the program was held was close to my home, I could just walk over.
It was nice. You were close to the teacher and she understood your situation.
The students were older and you could always find one or two friends.
This beginning prepared me for full-time school. Working on an individual
program was a good way to start. I improved my spelling and my English.
The math wasn't hard and I could review all the things I'd forgotten.
Coming back to school was really depressing especially in the first
year. You had to go to class all day, then come home and do homework.
It was not easy at all. The subjects were easy, it was the discipline
and study that were hard. It's different from a job--you're not paid
to get up early and study into the night. After you finish you can look
back and say "Wasn't I lucky?"
. But at the time it is hard. It
helped me become more of a fighter. It forced me to do things I didn't
think I could.
For example I was in the AOP and they said I had to attend a work experience
placement. I didn't want to do that. I didn't feel ready. So I went to see my
counsellor. She said I had to go or I wouldn't get my diploma. I went... and
it was great! This work experience placement turned into my current job which
is now permanent.
Going back to school was hard for me, but for others it is worse. Some
people have such a hard life. Still they do go back to school. If it's hard
for them when they go back to school they should go to a counsellor and talk it
over. The counsellors told me many times "hang in there"
. Also talk
to other students if you have a problem. Chances are they might have the same
problem as you. Adult students don't realize that they just have to finish
school and their lives will be easier.
