Essay

Diane’s Story

by Diane Deschatelets

My story begins in fourth grade, when I was put in Special Education class. They said that because of my parents’ divorce I was not doing well in school. What school officials didn’t see is that I had a learning disability and that all I needed was someone to take the time to show me the right way and perhaps to do it a little slower. I was one person who had fallen through the school’s "cracks" and by the time they saw it, it was too late to do something, so they just put me in basic courses and told me to do whatever I wanted.

Growing up in a small town is tough, but it is even harder when you are rejected by both adults and children. The adults were as bad as the kids — even worse sometimes. I never gave up because I knew that there was a reason that I was here on earth and that someday I’d find that reason. However, high school was not that good because that was where they told me that I was on my own, and it was up to me to get myself out of basic. That is where I also had to face the kids who were calling me names and making fun of me. I got so mad that I just wanted life to go by; I had lost my spirit. After many struggles a positive thought came back in my head and again it was reminding me that I was here for a reason. I tried very hard to see what that reason was, but I didn’t find it. I went for years being unhappy, not willing to do anything about it. I was sure that I would never do anything with my life and that there was no reason that I should stay. I graduated from high school with the basic course. Of course, no one would hire me with this level of education. That was when I just about let everything go. I told myself that since I couldn’t read or write, I was probably not going to do anything with my life.

When I moved to Timmins, Ontario, everything changed gradually. I was 18 years old when I decided to go back to school. I was told by a friend that the high school was holding classes for people who wanted to learn, but they didn’t want me because I graduated from basic. So once again I was let down. I told my mother that I was never going to leave the house and that I was never going to do anything with my life. When I went to see my friend something came over me; I told myself that there had to be a place that would take me. Thanks to TLC (Timmins Learning Centre) I was able to get the help that I wanted. They didn’t just help me with my spelling and writing they helped me feel good about myself, and that was one of the greatest feelings in the world. For the long time I didn’t know who I was and what I was going to do but now I think about going to college and becoming an interior decorator or a photographer.

I still don’t know the reason that I am here, but I do know that I don’t have to think about it anymore because now I have many things to look forward to. Learning to read and write has given me the freedom to discover new things and has given me my true life.