FERNANDO CAMPOS

Fernando's story reveals a person who is able to make the best of any situation. He is a survivor. His accomplishments are remarkable considering Fernando had no opportunity for an education as he was growing up. He had never been in a classroom until joining the BEAD program in 1991. However, Fernando was a self-taught man. Since arriving in Canada he taught himself English and was able to read and write well enough to begin at a junior high level. Fernando would like to be a journalist. In the future we may see this man, who began as a young boy with no education selling newspapers on the streets of Mexico City, reaching his goal.

I grew up in Mexico City speaking Spanish. Down there I was raised on the streets. I was 7 or 8 when my parents disappeared. I don't have any idea what my parents looked like. I don't even know their names. The only thing I worried about was where the next meal came from. To make money I washed cars, shone shoes, and sold newspapers. Mind you, selling newspapers was a pain in the neck because I couldn't read. Other kids sold more. Gradually I learned that these kids knew enough to read the headlines, then they would make up their own news. I did this too. Soon I was outselling everyone else because I've got one hell of an imagination!

My desire to leave Mexico was reinforced when I saw a friend of minedie. Seeing him there scared the devil out of me because he was younger than I was. Everywhere I looked I saw suffering.

After coming to Canada I had a variety of jobs. I washed dishes, worked in construction and was a "carnie" for three years because I wanted to see the country. But you don't get to see Canada when you work in a carnival. You travel at night and you work hard the rest of the time. When I got married I realized that was not the life for a married man, so I settled down in Calgary and worked for seven years at the Holy Cross Hospital.

I always wanted to go to school and finally I had a chance. Here I was, a family man with two children, entering class for the first time. I was scared! But the BEAD teacher made me feel so good that it was easy to get used to school. She took time to explain things to me. I learned grammar and things you don't teach yourself. These things stayed with me and helped give me confidence. The other problem for me as an adult student was money. I had a family to support, but you have to make sacrifices.

Once you make the decision to come to school you have to stick with it. If you don't you're wasting everyone's time -- and for what? Dish washing I guess, because that's what is left. I want to be a journalist, but from wishing to doing takes a long time!