Grace, out of work at the age of 47, had no confidence to look for a job. Feelings of insecurity and failure followed her from a small two-room schoolhouse in a tiny, Newfoundland community. With her children raised, she started at the Salisbury Adult Learning Centre CASP, where she passed her GED. It fuelled a desire for other courses, allowing her to discover a talent for painting.

I grew up with eleven brothers and sisters in Newfoundland, in a tiny community, where the teacher would be the Salvation Army Officer. Kindergarten to grade six, and grades seven to twelve, would be in the two classrooms. I didn’t do well in school. It was always a struggle. All tests were on the blackboard. I couldn’t see the writing on it. I really needed glasses, but we couldn’t afford any. Education wasn’t thought to be important. Learning to do housework, to cook and bake so you could get a husband, was important.

Three years ago, with my children raised, I started the CASP program fulltime, five days a week. I had been working part-time and was out of work. It was years since I quit school at fifteen in grade seven. I always wanted to finish. I did try about ten years ago, one night a week, and I could not do it. I couldn’t get the basics. Tests and exams, I was too terrified to write. My mind went blank. I felt like a failure, always insecure. I had no confidence, even to look for a lot of work.

I didn’t have anything (in Math) like integers, negatives, and positives. I had to learn all that and it was quite difficult. When I felt I could not do it, Margaret was there to encourage me. She didn’t let us fool around or anything. She said, “You’re there to learn. It’s up to you what you get out of it.” She always found books or something that was easier for me to follow. You weren’t looked down at, or told that you were stupid. I never thought I could do anything. I thought I was stupid. Because I never finished school, I felt so insecure, so ashamed going into groups.