Eighth in a family of nine children, here is Claudette's story. Her mother being widowed, she had to help her financially. This is why she had to quit school very early. She’s an academic upgrading student in the "Alpha Campbellton Comite I" CASP class.

Literacy : The Beginning of a Life

I had to quit school very early. At that point, I had little knowledge of mathematics, reading, or writing. I drew circles on paper in order to count. In addition, when I would go into stores, I was full of anxieties at the thought of making mistakes, hence my need to be accompanied by someone. Due to deficient schooling, I had low self-esteem, I thought I was stupid, good for nothing, that I would never make something of my life and that I would always be incapable of doing anything. I refused all social contact, and I would escape to my room when my brothers-in-law would come to the house. I thought that a girl without education could not follow a conversation and would therefore be of no interest to people who I thought were more educated. This is why every time I would interact with people, I would feel weak, foolish, silly, dim-witted, incapable and ignorant. I thought I would never bring myself out of this situation.

The years passed and I got married. I had children, but I had no sense of self-worth. I would send my children to the neighbors to do their homework because I feared I would not be able to give them the correct information and wanted to prevent that. Embarrassed by my ignorance, I would tell them that I didn’t have time to help them, and the neighbors would be able to. Just when I felt things were going from bad to worse and I would never get out of this, I heard about literacy. Good news! the classes were being held in the basement of my parish’s church. I am in my element. I feel secure and enroll in the classes after a few weeks. I adored my experience. That victory succeeded in increasing my self-esteem, and I could now look for work. Sadly, after a few years, the courses were transferred to Campbellton, so it was impossible for me to attend. Inwardly, I was hopeful that one day I would be able to resume my studies. One day, my son gave me the good news; he knew where I could enroll in a CASP class. Once more, my negative thoughts were resurfacing: I was older, I wouldn’t be able to learn more than what I already had. In addition, I was working, and I had lost the self-esteem I had managed to acquire during those few years of studying. However, my son told me: “Mom, you’re the one who taught us to always forge ahead in life and to never stop believing in ourselves.” It’s then that I understood he was right, I had everything to learn. I couldn’t have shown them all their lives that we have to fight for what we believe...and then simply give up.