My Personal Success Story – Individual Achievement

My name is Cheryl Hoyte. I come from St. Vincent, in the Caribbean, where I grew up with my grandparents from the age of 3. I know personally how difficult and challenging life can be when a person has problems with literacy. I know how hard it is to work on improving one's reading and writing skills. I also know how much easier life can be once a person has made progress with their literacy skills. Let me tell you my story.

I knew I had troubles with reading and writing when I was a little girl going to school. My grandparents and my mother never helped me with my homework. I struggled and never learned to read and write well. I stayed in school until Grade 4 and then started to work with my cousin as a baker. I didn't have to be able to read and write to do that kind of work so I didn't run into any problems right away.

It was when I went to England for six months that I first began to experience difficulties. I wasn't able to fill out custom forms at the airport on my way overseas and on my way back home. While in England, I realized I couldn't write a letter home to my grandparents to let them know how I was doing. I had to make long distance telephone calls or get my cousin to write for me. Working while in England was not so much of a problem as I found employment as a dishwasher. Once again, I didn't have to be able to read and write to do this. When I went back to St. Vincent, I worked as a baker again until my mother and my aunt decided to send me to Canada when I was 22.

More difficulties began to surface. The first job I found in Canada was as a babysitter. One day, my employer asked me to write notes for her children. When I explained to her that I couldn't read and write very well, she became very angry and upset with me. She told me that nobody would ever hire me for another job because of my problem. Even though she said this to me, I quit working for her. I was insulted by her comments and she hurt my feelings.

I met a friend during this time who was also working as a babysitter nearby. She was from St. Vincent as well. I felt comfortable with this lady and told her about my employment problem and my problem with reading and writing. She found me another job babysitting in the same area. My new employer, Brigitte, was a much kinder and more understanding woman than my previous boss. When I told Brigitte about my difficulties with reading and writing, she encouraged me to go back to school at night after work. Because of Brigitte's suggestion, I enrolled in the literacy program at John Rennie High School in Pointe Claire. To further encourage me, Brigitte suggested that I read the stories in my schoolbooks to her children. That way, I could practice reading, and her children could learn with me. Brigitte and I became friends, and I still keep in touch with this lady who inspired me to do something about my situation.

The time came when Brigitte no longer needed a babysitter. I then went to the YMCA in downtown Montreal to continue with the reading program I had started. Soon afterwards, I moved to Chateauguay and gave birth to my first daughter. I realized that I wanted even more to improve my literacy skills so that I would be able to help my daughter with her homework once she started school. I didn't want my daughter to go through what I did when I was young. I wanted to be able to help her as much as possible. The YMCA told me about the literacy program offered by the Chateauguay Valley Literacy Council and gave me the telephone number to contact them. I called the Council and enrolled in the program where I continue to work to this day on improving my literacy skills.

I sometimes feel that I am not making a lot of progress or that I am not learning as quickly as I would like. When I'm feeling frustrated because I can't see a difference in myself, I remind myself that others see a difference. I know then that I am learning because other people have noticed how my abilities have improved. My teachers and tutors encourage me to keep on trying. They understand how hard I am working and respect me for my determination. I do know that I have a lot more confidence now than I used to have. For example, when I go to meet my daughters' teachers at their school, I am not ashamed to let them know that I am enrolled in a literacy program. They always encourage me to stay in the program, especially since it sets such a good example for my children of the importance of lifelong learning.

While I have had positive experiences as I work on improving my skills, I have also had negative ones. I once tried to obtain a driver's licence. Upon arriving at the licence bureau to complete the theory part of the driving exam, I explained that I could not read well enough to be able to answer computerized questions. The administrator loudly said that I should go back to school and mocked me in front of his co-workers who then stared at me. The bureau arranged for me to take an oral exam that would have to be completed over several sessions. I never finished the exam however, because the administrator made me feel so awful each time I went back to the office. I will not give up though - one day I will go back to the bureau and I will obtain my driver's licence!

If I look back at my literacy skills when I first came to Canada and at my skills now, I can see that improving my reading and writing has helped to make my life so much easier. While in the past I couldn't read if a store was opened or closed, now I can. I can even read the hours of business. Grocery shopping is a lot simpler now that I can read about the items I am buying. I can use a banking machine to deposit and withdraw money. I can write cheques. I can understand banking statements and bills that I receive in the mail. I know what the balance is in my accounts. I know how much interest (if any!) I'm being charged on my accounts and how much I must pay each month. I can go to the bank by myself and take care of my affairs by myself. I can read recipes much more easily now so my cooking skills have even improved! I can work on word puzzles, complete my PBS bible lessons by mail, read my daughters' report cards, and read cards, letters and notes from friends and teachers. Improving my reading and writing skills has helped me become much more self-sufficient. I know that I have the ability to do things on my own now; I don't have to depend on others so much.

Even though I work full time now while taking care of my two daughters and my husband and running a household, I still participate in the Chateauguay Valley Literacy Council Program. I work one-to-one with my tutor during the evening after work even if I am really tired. I am very motivated and determined to continue to learn. Most of all, I want to continue to enjoy the success my hard work has brought me!