Now I am going to a Board of Education Upgrading course and I am working towards becoming a health care aide.

I still go to Parkdale where I am learning to have more self-confidence about what I can achieve. A whole new world is opening to me. It is a lot of fun and I will continue with my education for a long time.

Three Learners Review Olive Bernard's My Story

Olive Bernard's book has been very popular with learners and tutors at East End Literacy. Recently, our “George Brown” morning group read and discussed it, and three learners to write their own reviews. They have a lot in common with Olive. They are immigrants who have experienced similar joys and frustrations in Canada and they are working hard to improve their reading and writing skills in a community literacy program.

First of all I think her story is a good thing. To tell people who are not educated and don't have job status. There are lots of people who have this problem. I think the first step is to give them a chance they did not have.

Olive Bernard is determined to better herself by going back to school and not taking shit or getting pushed around by anyone.

***

I read the story by Olive Bernard and it's a very touching story. It tells me that reading and writing is very important to people. It took courage to go back to school in her late thirties. Living in Canada without being able to read and write, no Canadian status and no job skills, it is very difficult to get by. Working for a person who knows your position can be a headache.

***

To move to another country is very hard to do, especially when you can't read. I sympathize with Olive. She gives me a lot of determination because her life and mine are very similar.

I found it hard to fill out job applications. I began telling a friend who told me to go to a literacy program. After three years I can write my address and read my first book. It was the best thing in the world. I will continue with my education for a long, long time.