Despite heavy emotional baggage from painful past experiences that have been haunting them for years, Michelle and Julie are receiving medical help and are now at a point where they are regaining their lives and can leave some of that baggage behind. As Michelle states, "I try to take a spiritual view. I see my life …the pain and disappointment more clearly now…There were lessons and there are opportunities. I can accept my pain from the past now and I'm trying to move on…"

Michelle has been in the adult upgrading program for two years, while Julie has just returned to school on a part-time basis about six months ago. According to their instructor, both of these women are studying at about a grade 6 level. Their enthusiasm reveals that they are clearly goal-oriented individuals determined to obtain the equivalency of a regular high school diploma.

Julie reports that she was feeling invigorated by the progress and success she has shown already in the upgrading. Although she readily admits that she still has a low self-concept and feels insecure at times, she now has an accurate perception of her academic skills and progress and a better self-image of herself as a capable learner. She states "And now that I'm learning more. And I'm wanting…I'm very determined and wanting to learn." Further details on the parents' health conditions will be presented later in this chapter in the section on Emotional and Motivational Climate for Learning.