Patricia, when asked to state her goals or examine her attributes, did not discuss her academic abilities or goals. Rather, she emphasizes her physical features as strengths or areas needed to be improved. She identifies with her body and beauty before her brain. Patricia did not depict any academic goals in her collage. She did verbally state that one of her goals was to “get my GED,”
but this was only a secondary goal. Achieving her GED would help her obtain material items like artwork or a vacation to a beautiful island. To help support her throughout her educational journey, she pointed to the pictures of the models. Her beauty would give her the advantage she needed to succeed in life.
We have observed that when learners do not have a sense of self or only define themselves in parts (i.e. not as a whole person – body, mind, spirit, and emotions), they lack direction and persistence in an activity or task. They experience varying degrees of feeling lost or displaced.
A sense of self requires an understanding of one’s own values and beliefs. Confidence in expressing one’s own voice is also an important aspect of having a sense of self. Knowing one’s self includes an awareness of the abilities and limitations that she possesses. Establishing a sense of self will help balance the mind, body, spirit and emotions. At our Adult Learner Program, we are striving towards an environment that helps each woman gain or restore her sense of self.
In a longitudinal study entitled, “Supporting Persistence in Adult Literacy,” John Comings and his colleagues found that very few adults persevere in literacy programs (2003). He emphasizes that adult learners come to literacy programs needing multiple support services. Besides basic supports like shelter, food, transportation, and childcare, Comings also highlights the need for teachers to find classroom techniques that build a community of learners so students can provide support for each other. He also stresses that a literacy program needs to offer a place for learners to express their emotions. These components will help learners prosper through their educational journeys.