Tutor and Student Stories

In Their Shoes: White Nikes - Anthony

“I was homeless for over 25 years. My wife died and that broke my heart. I started using hardcore drugs—everything under the sun. When I didn’t have money, I made my own stuff. Sometimes, I’d just use bleach. I had to get food from the garbage and it would be cold one night and hot the next. I was miserable.” -Anthony

When you look at Anthony now, you see a man that is full of determination. Anthony does landscaping: he spends all day in the sun and still comes to class in the evenings. On the side, he details cars. The death of Anthony’s wife sent his life spiraling out of control. Before he knew it, he was living on the streets. Anthony believes he might still be there if an old friend had not come to get him and take him out of the city that had become so toxic. Anthony’s friend allowed Anthony to move in with his family. He still resides with them and is forever grateful for their support because they changed his life and helped him find a healthier path. Now that Anthony’s life has calmed down, he finally has time to “better himself,” as he says. Literacy is a huge part of that process for him. Growing up, he hated speaking and reading aloud because other students made fun of his speech impediment. Eventually, Anthony’s social isolation caused him to loathe school altogether. “I just gave up after a while,” he said. Now, Anthony often volunteers to read in class. He appreciates the support and understanding of his empathetic classmates. Anthony is also excited about becoming a better writer. He wants to make advertisements for his business. “It takes me some time, but I am getting better. I write sentences. I read more stuff. It’s great.”

Sick and Tired of Getting Second-Hand Information - Willie

Willie is a middle aged fellow with a sweet and gentle disposition who came to Learn to Read in the fall of 2015. Willie's goals in his reading career are humble and he is determined to meet them. Willie wants to be able to read children's books to his three grandchildren, who have already suspected that he cannot read, and wants to prove to himself that he can become a better reader and less dependent on others. He is sick and tired of getting second-hand information about life's issues. He wants to be able to read on his own.

Now confined to a wheelchair after a stroke, Willie is overcoming his difficulties by never missing his small group class, or his walking therapy. He is always eager to answer questions when they come around to him. His improvement in reading and his improvement in walking are now increasing at the same time.

This is a time of great change in Willie's life, all for the better. He is gaining confidence every week, and will soon have enough courage to start reading to his grandchildren. Willie is dedicated to see that they get a head start, and won't be bullied like he was in school because he could not read. He stated that he has learned more during his five months with Learn to Read than he learned in eleven years of school. He has also become somewhat of a father figure to the other students in the class because of his can-do and cheerful attitude.

In Their Shoes: Sandals - Ms. Gillespie

“I was 14 years old when I dropped out of school because I was pregnant. I am from a single parent household. My mom couldn’t afford to take care of me, so I had to get a job.” –Ms. Gillespie

Ms. Gillespie reflects on her past and a life that wasn’t easy for a young woman with an uncertain future. She shared with us about her life as a hardworking woman from Jamaica who came to America: “I lived in a small town (in Jamaica). I wanted to come to America because I wanted to know what the world was like and to work for a better life. When I got to America, it was a dream-come-true. I got a job in the state of New York and started to work. I was so happy! I started taking classes. Then, things changed. I got married. I got divorced. I dropped out of school. I decided to relocate to Florida. I went to a reading class but stopped because I wasn’t able to keep up. I found FSCJ (Florida State College at Jacksonville) and took the TABE test there, but didn’t pass, so I was referred to the reading classes at Learn to Read. This time, I decided that I was not going to drop out. I want to be a nurse; that is my goal.” Ms. Gillespie then shared with us some good news: she had recently passed the exam to become a Level 2 Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA II) and was promoted to a better paid position as a supervisor. “I’ve noticed that since I’ve started this (Learn to Read) class, my skills have improved greatly. This class helped me get a promotion at my job. I had to study from seven chapters of a Level 2 CNA book, and then pass a written test. I passed the first time I tried it.” We asked Ms. Gillespie what she likes about her small group class. “Being in the small group is like being with family. Reading aloud has made me very uncomfortable in the past because of my pronunciation. I am scared of reading and it not sounding the way it should sound, but I am very comfortable in the small group class. Coming to class helps me concentrate better. I learn different words I didn’t know before.” Here is her advice for other students: “If you need something, don’t back down. Just go for it. If you fall, pick yourself up and rise again. It will pay off in the future. Doing this class is like trying to hit a target on the wall. You try to hit the target. You miss the bulls-eye. But you keep trying. It will pay off!”