Downright Awesome Learners

Brittney Slade

I had a hard life back in Cape Breton. By the age of fifteen, I was out living in an apartment by myself. I started grade ten but dropped out because I decided it would be better to make some money. I worked as a supermarket cashier and partied a lot with my friends. I had no motivation to make a better life for myself.

Two years ago, my boyfriend and I moved here to Elmsdale, and we didn't know many people at first. I was pregnant by then and didn't know what services there would be available for expectant mothers.

When I found out about the Mommy2B prenatal classes at the East Hants Family Resource Centre (EHFRC), my boyfriend and I signed up. We learned how to have a healthy pregnancy, how to take care of our baby, and where we could go for help if we needed it. Cathy MacDonald at EHFRC encouraged me to go to adult learning. After my son Emerson was born, it seemed more important that I improve my skills because I had his future to think of too. Cathy gave me the GED book and told me I didn’t have to pay for it, and that I could attend free GED classes. That was it! There were no good excuses for not going ahead and doing it.

Now I go to the Little Treasures program and Emerson comes with me. While Cathy and Sara take care of him at Little Treasures, I study for my GED. Jean Wright tutors me three times a week, and I am planning to attend night time classes with her too.

Adult learning has helped me refresh my brain. All my skills are a lot better now, especially math. I was never read to as a child, and now I read for pleasure and I enjoy it.

I’ve always wanted to be a hairdresser, not a cashier. My adult learning instructors encourage me to think about the future and what I would enjoy doing for a living. We talk about the skills I would need to do that kind of work.

I participate in other classes offered at EHFRC too. I like the cooking classes where we learn how to prepare healthy recipes. I’m more active now than I ever was before. I go running and take better care of my body, and I eat healthier too.

Adult learning programs that include child care are important to young moms like me. We can be great moms, but we need help and support. Because of these programs, I know my son is going to have a brighter future. Because I am improving on my literacy and essential skills, my future looks brighter too. ‘God love them’ at East Hants Family Resource Centre! What they do is pretty amazing.

Brenda Boudreau

I grew up in a small fishing village on Isle Madame where employment for many family generations was mainly working in a fish plant or on fishing trawlers.

Like a lot of other teenagers my age, leaving school and going to work to help out at home was necessary. Many families earned a good living and didn’t have to leave home, so it was quite natural and no one considered that it would eventually come to an end. This one particular fish plant employed members of several families during its existence from 1951 to 1994.

After being employed for 24 years, the fishery closed down and I found myself at the age of 40 with a grade 10 education and no job. It was a stressful change in my life.

I decided to enroll in a Career and Job Options Program sponsored by the Inverness-Richmond Learning Centre. With this program, I gained confidence that I could change my future and have better opportunities for work. While still in the program I was offered part-time work which I couldn’t really afford to refuse. The program instructor encouraged me to accept the job and work towards my GED at the same time.

I accepted the part-time work offer and with her help, I continued studying to achieve my goal. I would do my lessons at home and bring them in for correction. I didn’t know this at the time, but this instructor would play an even bigger role in my future and would eventually become my work colleague and friend.

When the Learning Centre was discontinued, literacy networks were set up to assist and improve adult education. The program instructor who had been so encouraging to me became the coordinator for the Richmond County Literacy Network. New adult learning programs were put in place to assist adults in bettering their future. I continued working part-time and with their help in working to accommodate my schedule, I successfully achieved my GED in 1996. The programs and instructors helped me develop better self-esteem that I needed in order to continue my education and pursue a career.

After I earned my GED, I enrolled in the Business, Information & Technology Program at the NSCC Strait Area Campus and graduated with honors. As I gained more confidence in myself, my interest in the field of Accounting became stronger and I decided to enroll in the Accounting program at the Truro Campus. This was the only NSCC campus that offered the program, and the fact that it was a three hour drive from home forced me to make another major life change: I had to move away from my family to live on campus and travel home on weekends.

I enrolled at NSCC Truro for the 1997-98 school year, and I was especially lucky to find people to live with who became like family. My husband and my 15 year old son were very supportive. The cost associated with education and travel was a financial stress, but once again, an adult literacy group provided me with assistance and made my success more achievable. With a letter of support from the Richmond County Literacy Network, I was awarded a $1,500.00 scholarship from the Nova Scotia Provincial Literacy Coalition (NSPLC) which is now Literacy Nova Scotia. I excelled in the accounting program and received my diploma in 1998, and held the Interim Treasurer position with the NSPLC provincial board for a period of time.

When I returned home to Isle Madame, I was able to assist many community organizations which was a very rewarding experience. I continued working at various jobs that didn’t always pay well, but they added valuable contacts to my portfolio. I had one year of Full-time emplyment with the Richmond County Literacy Network and I remain with them as their part-time bookkeeper. In 2004, I was hired as an assistant to a chartered accountant. I continue to work both jobs.

Now more than ever as the baby boomers get older, adult literacy groups are an integral part of our society. They have different programs to help adults obtain the essential skills required for career changes and everyday life. I certainly encourage everyone to follow their dreams. No one is a failure except for the one who fails to try. You are never too old to learn or to achieve your goal if you really want it. It will increase your self-esteem and self-worth. If you don't know where to start, find an adult literacy organization in your area. I'm sure they will lead you on the right path.

Beverly Brace

Beverly Brace is in her second year in the Adult Learning Program at NSCC Truro. She left school at age 15 to stay home and look after her family.

“For so many years, I felt like there was something missing. I never got my grade 12, and I felt shame piled on top of me over that.” Bev met some wonderful friends who encouraged her. “Through my friends and my wonderful family, I found some reassurance that I could do better. When I discovered there was a free ALP program at NSCC, I decided to give it a try.”

"Being here at NSCC and being around such an amazing staff that are so understanding and compassionate made it much easier for me to succeed," says Bev. "They have helped me by making me see I am not worthless and I deserve to do well in my life.”

More on Beverly (PDF)

Shannon Bridger

I left school at age 19 and at 25, I realized that it was time to do something with my life. I saw my friends moving on. My uncle and one cousin are the only people in my family to have a high school diploma. I wanted that. I didn’t want a life where I just settled. I want to do big things, where I can create. I didn’t want to look back when I reached 40 and wish that I had done more. I wanted to make an impact in some way. I started at the Waterfront Campus of NSCC in January 2010.

As a result of adult learning, I have acquired a new attitude and more self confidence. I always had good skills but now I write better and I do good research. The Adult Learning Program (ALP) unlocked what was already there but I didn’t realize it was.

I do a lot of writing, learning and researching on my own now, learning new information that otherwise I wouldn’t have thought about on my own. The Adult Learning Program has taught me to have greater understanding and empathy for people who are from different walks of life. It has taught me responsibility and to be more of an adult. I am very involved with the ALP newspaper. My teacher created the ALP newspaper to help us develop new skills and also to help us understand we are people with good ideas and creativity. It has given us opportunities to express ourselves, develop responsibility, meet deadlines and work as a team.

I used to feel I was in the dark. Now I see new paths opening for me. I can do things I never thought were possible for me. I want to write, publish, and pursue film. I didn’t pursue any of that before because I didn’t think I could do it. I am following through on things. The future is brighter for me because I know what I can do now.

Five years ago I was floating. I had dreams but when I thought of what I had to do to follow them, I would rather just go get drunk with my friends. Now I know I can fulfill my dreams and I know how. This is the same for a lot of people in my situation. When I look back to when I was 17, I thought I had so much wisdom. Now I know I was just naive. I know now that I have ADD (diagnosed about a year ago) and that gives me confidence. I am not stupid, lazy or crazy; that is from a book I read about ADD, and a weight has been lifted from me. I can work harder now because I know how to work around the problems. My fantasy is that in five years time I will be writing and editing and I’ll be the next JK Rowling. The reality is that I plan to be working on a masters degree in English and creative writing. Not a bad reality!

Cassandra Cameron

Cassandra Cameron became a mom when she was 25. “I was a single mom at that. I was a waitress beforehand. I needed a good paying job I could work at during the day that would provide for my son and I and be sustainable.”

Cassandra decided to improve her employability by upgrading her literacy and essential skills. She attended the 2-year Carpentry program at NSCC Waterfront Campus and graduated with her diploma in 2013. Cassandra apprenticed and in 2020, she became a Red Seal Carpenter.

“Going back to school drastically changed my life. I have more financial independence and a sustainable income.” More About Cassandra (PDF)

Danielle DeCoff

Danielle left high school when I was 16. "I was not interested in school. I had a hard time listening, and being a rebellious teenager, I thought I knew everything. I felt as though I didn’t need school. I have since discovered I should have never left and I should have stayed to get my diploma."

Danielle decided to return to learning after her youngest child was born. "I was becoming a shut in. I was too afraid to try to work because of the complications with childcare and transportation. Besides, what if I failed? Who would hire me? I reached a point in my life that I wanted change."

Danielle attended a adult learning and employability program with the Port Hawkesbury Literacy Council and completed her GED in 2016. More About Danielle (PDF)

Terri-Lyn Foley

From LNS' Fall 2012 Newsletter

Just a few years ago, Terri-Lyn Foley felt that she was facing a life on Social Assistance. The only jobs she could get involved manual labour which her severe arthritis made impossible. Her future changed dramatically when she enrolled in the Adult Learning Program at NSCC Truro in 2009.

A year later, Terri-Lyn was one of Literacy Nova Scotia’s 2010 Scholarship winners. Her program instructors said, “Terri-Lyn has consistently demonstrated a high level of competency in all the tasks which she was assigned. She has been a benefit to the classroom, the college and the community.” Terri-Lyn went on to graduate with her Disability Supports Diploma — with honours! She currently works at the Canadian Mental Health Association and she loves her job. She is an active community volunteer, and she recently fulfilled another important dream: purchasing her first house!

Terri-Lyn remembers the moment she first walked into an ALP classroom: “My future began to change, and change it certainly did. Initially I intended to enroll in the IT program at the college after I completed the ALP, however things happened that changed my direction. While helping fellow classmates that were struggling with school work, I discovered that I loved helping people to help themselves. Imagine my excitement when I also discovered that not only could I make a living at it, but I could study Human Services at the Truro Campus.”

Before attending ALP, Terri-Lyn felt that she had good organizational skills. Returning to school enhanced them to the point that she became an organizational tutor for NSCC Disability Services. While she had a home computer, she rarely used it, only to send an occasional email.

Today Terri-Lyn teaches her children how to operate different software programs. Her computer skills have developed to the point that she can now list them on her resume as employable skills.

Looking back over her adult learning journey, Terri-Lyn says she always believed she was smart, and now she has an education to back up her beliefs. “I know that tomorrow I could lose everything. It has already happened to me once. But now I know that I have an education, so I have the tools to rebuild my life if I should ever have to again.”

“I had a bucket list when I started: Graduate high school, learn to drive a car, get a car, graduate from college, get a job and buy a house. Now every single thing is crossed off, so I have a new list: Get my degree, travel to Europe, visit the North and take my children to Disney. Before ALP, dreams were just dreams, but now dreams are actually to-do lists. That’s the best thing I took away from the ALP program: the belief that I can make my dreams come true.”

Karl Francis-Williams

In June 1982, I had experienced the most pain in my life at that time of letting go of my Dad. I didn't know what to do and where to go. During that time, I had lost all direction in life, dropped out of school and then moved to Halifax. Prior to my Dad passing away, he told my best friend Chester that he wanted me to get my high school education. Education was a big part of what Mom and Dad had instilled in my brothers and sisters and myself. Of course, I didn't want an education, I just wanted to play sports. I moved to Halifax in September 1982 and found work, and I am still working now. I have had some conversations in the past with my brother-in-law regard to getting my high school education, and I never forgot those conversations.

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and it changed my life. After my treatments in late 2015, I made some goals that I wanted to achieve but never really put much thought into going back to school until about a year and half ago after speaking with my niece Victoria.

I contacted Bedford Sackville Learning Network and was enrolled in the program. I then took classes on my days off (I'm on a rotating schedule of 4 days on and 4 days off with my work). I knew that lots of work, studying and class time was ahead of me.

I had some big shoes to fill in following my family’s request to get an education. One pair of shoes were a sister’s who is here today. Education and hard work brought her far in life. She is The Honorable Mayann Francis, the first black woman to hold the title of Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Then I realize I can't wear high heeled shoes.

On February 5, 2018, I completed my GED and I now have a high school diploma. It's never too late to fulfill your dreams and your desires in life and to be successful. To those who have doubts, don't doubt; you can do it, just try.

In closing, I just want to thank a few people, my Dad and my brother-in-law. Thank you BSLN staff Paul, Anne and my instructor Kevin. Thank you Literacy Nova Scotia.

What a journey so far; I tackle cancer and now I scored a touchdown with an high school education. More About Karl (PDF)

Marcia Jeffers

Marcia Jeffers is an adult learner giving back to others through the healthcare industry as a Continuing Care Assistant (CCA). Marcia returned to school and enrolled in the LINK CCA Program – a program allowing adult learners to get their grade 12 and CCA certificate in two years. She successfully completed the program which provided her with the tools she needed to reach her goals. Marcia’s learning accomplishment was recognized by Literacy Nova Scotia when she was chosen as an Adult Learners’ Week Contest winner in 2009. More About Marcia (PDF)

Paulette Hiltz

Paulette Hiltz left school at age 17 after she gave birth to her oldest daughter.

Today, Paulette lives in a three bedroom trailer with her partner, three children and her mother and father. Her mother-in-law recently moved in after her living arrangements fell through and plans to stay with them until she can find her own apartment. While Paulette’s partner goes out to work every weekday, she manages the day-to-day lives of her family and her parents in their small, busy household of eight people.

“My father used to work in the woods but one day he hurt his back and couldn’t work anymore. This happened when I was a child. My mother can’t read or write. I have looked after my parents for as long as I can remember. I looked after my nephews and cousins too.”

Paulette cooks all the meals, handles the bills and finances, does all the shopping and errands and ensures that family members get to their medical appointments. “I’m a multitasker. I’ve always been very organized. You can ask me on Monday what I’m going to cook for supper on Thursday and I’ll be able to tell you.”

As her children got older, Paulette felt pressure to go back to school to upgrade her skills so she could find paid work. “The biggest motivator for me was that I wanted to set a good example for my children. My nephew graduated from high school last year and my daughter will graduate this year. Their success inspired me to be successful too.”

She searched the internet for GED and found the Bedford Sackville Learning Network. “I called the BSLN office and told them I wanted to get my GED. They arranged for me to be tested to see what my literacy levels were, and then I started GED classes in September 2013.” Paulette’s excellent time management skills allowed her to integrate school work into her already hectic life. “I went to classes three days a week. I was never late and my homework was always done!”

Paulette hopes to complete her GED this year and then move on to other training. “I always wanted to do secretarial work and I know I’d be good at it because I’m organized.” She uses a computer and wants to take courses to improve her technical knowledge and skills. Paulette is also considering senior care as an employment option because the experience she gained from caring for her parents has prepared her for that type of work. “I will need financial assistance to continue my learning, but I’ll do it. I’m focused on completing my GED first. I’m taking one step at a time.”

Paulette says that continuing her education has made her a happier, more confident and more complete person. “I can hardly wait to get my career started so I can provide a better life for my family. This is just the beginning of my success story.”

Brenda Lavandier

Back in high school, I struggled seriously with math. I was convinced I would never be able to learn it, and that gave me such a feeling of desperation that I eventually just quit high school.

Becoming a mother motivated me to return to learning. When my first daughter was born, I had so many hopes for her. I envisioned how great her life could be, and that vision included her graduating from high school one day. But then I asked myself, “How could I expect my daughter to finish high school when I hadn’t?” I decided to enrol in adult education classes with the local literacy network.

Adult learning programs restored my faith in myself. I discovered that my math phobia was unfounded and I could learn it! Adult learning programs also helped me improve important skills that I would have developed had I stayed and finished high school. By improving my skills, I built my self-confidence, and that is without a doubt the most important thing I gained from adult learning. Because I felt more confident in myself, I was able to build on the strong foundations my instructors gave me.

In 1999, I finally received my high school equivalency diploma but I didn't stop there. Getting my diploma only fuelled the fire inside me for higher learning, and the birth of my second daughter was the motivator to push me even further. I realized that I owed it not only to my children but also to myself to attain the education I had always wanted but was too complacent to work for. I entered university in the fall of 2001 and I haven't looked back. I am now a teacher with two university degrees and I have been employed steadily since graduation.

I have always enjoyed reading, but as a result of returning to learning, I now enjoy a much broader variety of genres, including non-fiction and educational materials. With my increased confidence, I am more willing to try new things that involve being in public or working with other people. I feel more confident about attending social functions such as dances, community fundraisers and workshops. In the past, I used to avoid physical activity because of lack of confidence, but now I enjoy bicycling, running, and exercising at the gym.

I believe that my overall health is better as a result of continuing education, as I have the resources to understand what I need to do to be healthy. In general, I am a happier person because no matter what life brings my way, I am in a better position to deal with it, good or bad. I am more likely to seize opportunities now that I once might have let slip by.

Continuing my education helped me get a job that I enjoy. Now I can work and learn new things each day, and help other people have success in life. My job allows me to give back to the community that helped me on my way.

My future looks much more promising now than it did when I started adult learning fourteen years ago. Back then, things looked a lot less rosy, but one high school diploma and two university degrees later, I have steady employment and a wonderful life ahead of me. I can honestly attribute these changes to when I took that first step toward a better education: the day I returned to learning.

Angela MacKinnon

Education changed my life in many ways. I have discovered so much about who I am and what I am capable of. I was raised believing women were not all that important and our job was to take care of the family. I dropped out of school after completing grade eight, and was married at sixteen. We raised three beautiful children, but I knew this was not all I was meant to do. Although I love my children dearly, I felt unfinished.

I returned to learning by enrolling in the GED program at The NSCC Centre for Geographic Sciences (COGS). Since completing my GED, I have acquired my Life Coaching certification, have been ordained as a Pastor and am currently attending university at the Canadian Christian College in Toronto. I am working towards my bachelors degree in Christian Counseling with a specialization in Addiction. I have no second thoughts as to this being the right direction. COGS certainly prepared me for university, and none of my time there was wasted. I was able to transfer my credits to my current program, and will be able to acquire my Masters in no time at all.

My hobbies have changed immensely since I returned to school. I absolutely embrace learning. I remember when I first started attending a few classes to upgrade my skills, I had terrible grammar and punctuation skills. I disliked writing very much. Now I have been told on many occasions that I should consider writing a book. I must admit I find the idea is very enticing. I have uncovered many skills that I embrace since embarking on this journey.

I raised my children to believe they could accomplish anything and that’s exactly what they are doing. They are smart, strong young adults. It wasn’t until my son went off to STFX that I began to question why wasn’t I doing the same thing? This is where my journey changed direction and began to shape a brighter future for my two beautiful girls. My oldest daughter never exactly did what I said, but what I did come to find out was she was watching me and sometimes followed in what I did. I fought hard and set the bar high and before I knew it, she was right behind me, embarking on a beautiful, successful journey of her own. My youngest is now ready to graduate grade 12, most likely with honours, and is already talking about becoming a nurse practitioner.

My family was not accustomed to the idea of success or education; especially the women of my family. I was raised to believe poor and uneducated is just who we were. I am so happy I laid that down and walked away from a story that does not at all lead to a brighter tomorrow. We are not where we came from. We are who we desire to be.

Debra Paris Perry

I live in Uniacke Square in north end Halifax. My family is from Truro. I am a mother to three grown children and a grandmother to eighteen more. I come from a mixed cultural heritage of Black Nova Scotian and First Nations, and I am proud of both my cultures.

I was 14 years old when I left school. I refused to go to regular school because I was bored. The truant officer came to my house and told my mother that I had to go to a different school. So they put me there, but I kept running away. The teachers made me wear my pyjamas all day long because they thought that would make me stay in the building and not run away. More About Debbie (PDF)

Paul Robson

I used to drive by the Valley Community Learning Association office in Kentville and wonder what they did there. One day without really thinking about it, I went in. The Executive Director Peter Gillis shook my hand, and I asked him if this was a place for me to improve my education. Peter started to tell me about the learning program but I stopped him and asked him if there was a cost. Peter said there was no cost, so I told him to go on.

I told Peter my education was very low. He gave me some tests and told me it would take a lot of time for me to get to the grade eight level I needed to take the truck driving course. I have always wanted to drive a truck but I couldn’t read and write.

I got approved by Skills Development to do the program. I had three years to move from 0 education to grade eight so I could get into Commercial Safety College. I started in the classroom for about a year but I was getting frustrated by the class. Peter helped me again. My tutor worked through the Air Brake Manual with me. She drew diagrams on the chalkboard and I learned all the parts of the system. I borrowed a laptop from Peter and he scanned in parts of the manual so I could study at home. All this took about a year with sessions two or three times a week.

I passed the air brake test! I was so proud. When you pass that test, they put a special mark on your licence. I kept looking at the licence, to make sure it was real. I couldn’t believe I had done it.

I was finally ready to attend Commercial Safety College, but there was one more test I had to pass. The Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES) is hard and takes three hours to do. I worked with a tutor for a couple of months to get ready. During the test, I did the easy questions first, then worked on the hard questions. There were ten questions I didn’t do. Three days after I wrote the test, I was told I had passed.

One of the important things I learned in the program was how to be in control and how to sit with other people. I was shy, it took me a while to become comfortable. Then one day, I started to participate and then you couldn’t shut me up. I became confident.

Now I have a job as a professional driver. Today I worked a twelve hour day. The pay is okay for someone like me starting off and I am absolutely happy! I always wanted to be where I am now. It all came down to going after what I wanted. It took a long time but it was worth it. I want to be able to tell other people that they can do this too.

Nicole Webb

"I loved elementary school and I had wonderful teachers that instilled a love of reading and learning in me that really changed my future. I left school because in Cape Breton you went to school or you went to work. I was bullied, so I left school after barely completing grade 9. I went to work and landed amazing jobs with incredible mentors. I saw that people with education were treated well and admired. I wanted to learn and be treated with respect."

"Fast forward seven years, and I found myself walking by a bus shelter with a picture of George Canyon and a message from the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) saying I could go back to school for free. I called the number, and two weeks later, I was enrolled in the Nova Scotia High School Diploma Program. I was finally back to learning and I couldn’t be happier." More About Nicole (PDF)