Adult Literacy Stories

Here are the stories of just a few of BC's adult learners. Each person's learning journey is different. Would you like to share your story?

If you would like to share the story of your learning journey, please email your story (100 to 500 words) to mjohston@literacy.bc.ca. If you have a picture you would like to share, please email that as well. We also welcome stories from literacy practitioners, volunteers and tutors.

Shawn Richards

I am pleased to share how my journey into literacy is changing my life.

From grades 1 to 6 I was held back twice, then put into grade 8 with no introduction into high school. I really hated my first year of high school with all the learning disabilities. I lived in fear I would be centered out in the large class. Eventually I found myself so far behind soon I quit going all together. The other students were lost like me and we suppressed all feelings with drugs and alcohol.

Steve Mattice

Several years ago I had a bad accident and couldn't work my usual jobs anymore. I was nearly fifty years old, had never finished high school, and I didn't know what I was going to do. Then I heard about the Partner Assisted Learning program in Williams Lake ..."

"In Grade 7 I was diagnosed with autism and dyslexia. I struggled in school, but did graduate, and started a job. However I lost my job when my employer closed down. That's when I decided to attend Project Literacy Kelowna ..."

"As a mother of six children it is my family that inspired me to achieve my learning goals. I noticed that things stay the same until you make a change in your life. At first I was really scared to ask for help, but I did it ..."