I am a single mom who is 27 years old and I have two boys, William, 9, and Malcolm who is 7.
I had a lot of trouble with my schooling as I was growing up. My trouble with schooling started when I was in Grade 4 when I was in a 4/5 split class.
The teacher I had stood me and a very good friend of mine up in front of the whole class and ran us down and made us feel like dirt. She did this because we couldn’t afford what she could afford.
Since then my grades dropped and so did my self-esteem. Kids picked on me for years after that.
My self-esteem started to go up a little when I was in Grade 9. I was having trouble in gym class, so I talked to my councillor, Mrs. Christianson, who helped me to solve my problem and put me in peer helping.
I was a peer helper for the special needs class for two years in a row. I really enjoyed helping them; it made me feel important and that I was a person.
When I was in Grade 10, I had some trouble as well. I was in learning assistance for one block throughout the year, but it wasn’t as helpful.
I remember my math teacher Mr. Funk. He took the time to help when I was struggling.
I found that I did better when I had the extra one-on-one help. Part way through Grade 11, I dropped out because I was pregnant with William.
I still tried to go back to school, but it was very difficult to go back and be a single parent at the same time.
I did go back to school before my youngest was born. I started going to the 100 Mile Grow Centre, and I got connected with PAL and Group Tutoring. For PAL, I got to work with Sheila Hart and through Group Tutoring I got to work with Diana Badke.
At the Grow Centre, I got help from a group of wonderful teachers: Mark, for my composition 11 and 12; Rose, for my food studies 12; Kathy, for my math 11 and Spanish 11; and Shelly, for art 12 and biology 12.
Sometimes when I needed extra help with my math 11, I would ask Lory from ESP Consulting. She is such wonderful help. All the teachers are when they put their minds to it.
I am currently working on my pre-requisites for the care aid course in January. I have also just completed my Grade 12. I am really looking forward to this course because it is something that I really want to do.
I love helping others. I have been helping others all my life and wouldn’t have it any other way.