Delinda Henry graduated from the WLC in Fall 2011. She is now pursuing her GED at Academy of Hope. Delinda’s commitment to her education and determination to make her dream come true has inspired everyone at the WLC. She spoke to her fellow students at her graduation. This is her speech:

People had different life experiences before they came to the WLC. Each person found out about the WLC in his or her own way. In my late thirties I searched for a school that would teach me how to read. I was very disappointed because the teachers were only interested in helping the students without challenges. I didn’t fit in again. I didn’t understand the work. Nobody was interested in older students trying to come back to school. However, I was determined to learn how to read. I kept going to the library to read the children’s books. I finally asked a librarian to help me find a different program. She gave me a list of schools. I called around. Some of the schools were no longer operating and others were full. But the WLC accepted me and gave me a chance. For that I am grateful.

When my daughter was little, I didn’t know how to read. My mother used to buy her children’s books and I couldn’t read them. It made me mad, but now I can read to my grandson. I feel a lot better in life. I can comprehend job applications now and fill them out by myself. I can type a bit and email. I learned a lot about computers at the WLC.

The world is changing. My brother is also in housekeeping. On his job he had to learn how to use the computer because they send him assignments on email. He can check his paystub online. I am a shop steward and I need to email to communicate with the other union members. I didn’t know how to do all these things until I came here.

Now we all share a common experience and I am grateful for that. To the students who are continuing at the WLC, I say “Keep going. Don’t give up. Keep shame out of your way and keep looking forward to your future.”

I always wanted more for myself in life. I wanted success, to be able to read and write, and to be happy at what I do in life, not to just sit back and watch the world pass me by. The dreams of being more were haunting me every day. I could never get comfortable with what I had. At the end of the day, it was not enough. The desire to be able to read and write better one day would never leave. One day I felt stuck as if I was not going anywhere. I felt like I was not going to move up in life until I found a reading program. I looked and looked online until I found the WLC program. Then I felt better. I felt I was going to move up again in life. I made a promise to myself and GOD, “If I can get back in a class, I was not going to miss a day of class.” And I didn’t. I came to class every day I had class and I learned a lot from my teachers, tutor, and classmates. My classmates taught me to never give up and they motivated me a lot.

With this program I brushed up on my skills and learned how to break down bigger words. I took the first step to reaching my dreams of becoming more. To all the students at the WLC, I encourage you to never give up and continue on the road of happiness.”

Larry currently attends Academy of Hope to study for the GED. He plans to continue on to college.

WLC student John Robinson recently ran in the Marine Corps Marathon and wrote about it. Here is John’s account of the experience:

Marine Corps Marathon

I rode the train from Fort Totten to the Pentagon. I looked to my left and right. There was nothing but runners in sight. I had thought about stretching the night before, but preparation was not part of the plans. I saw marines falling from the sky, so I knew I was in the place. So, I laced up my Reebok fleece and adjusted my bib that I brought from my wonderful client.

The gun went off and 30,000 people were to my right and left. The crowd support is one of the reasons I run. Mile 14 was hard to endure. Five hours of running. What was I thinking? I was so upset with myself because I would not beat Oprah Winfrey’s time.

At mile 21 I felt the pain in my Gracilis [muscle]. “I will not let this hundred year old man beat me!” At mile 26.2 I sighed relief. Thanks to the wonderful crowd support I got a chance to take a picture in front of Iwo Jima. Those marines were courageous!

My name is Bobby Arnold and I am a student at the Washington Literacy Council. I began Basic Level classes in 2010. I have now progressed to the Intermediate Level. My goal when I enrolled at the Washington Literacy Council was to become a professional weightlifting instructor. I was unable to reach this goal because I could not write a complete weight training program. Since I’ve been taking classes, I’ve been writing weightlifting programs and cycles. But the classes have helped me in many other ways. Before I entered the program I often felt confused because I could not read and write. A year ago, I could not read my mail. I had to ask someone to read it to me. Now I can read my own mail. A year ago, I could not fill out a job application. But now I can. Being able to read and write and comprehend has helped me to express myself to clients and others much better and in a more positive way. Being able to express myself has given me a lot more confidence. I feel much stronger within myself and this has helped me reach out to others. I became a member of a men’s support group. I feel that I am a leader in the support group.” Part of Bobby’s Testimony to Chairman Brown on Adult Education in June 2011

Since then Bobby received the WLC Student Leadership award for leading the Men’s Support Group and is interviewing to be an assistant personal trainer at a Ingleside at King Farm, a retirement community in Rockville, MD.

Before starting at the Washington Literacy Center, I knew I wanted something different for myself, but I was afraid to pursue a better job because of my reading and writing.

Since starting at the WLC in September, 2009, I am able to pronounce words that I couldn’t before. I have a better understanding of what I have read. I have waited so long for the moment to come where I can feel comfortable being around people; that I can be myself and no one judges me for not being able to comprehend what I have just read.

The WLC is important to me because the instructors are wonderful and very understanding to each individual’s needs. They make me feel as if I am going to make it no matter what obstacles I may have. Since coming to the WLC I have a better understanding of where I want to be by the end of 2012. That is in a careerjob and in a better place financially. And I see that happening very soon thanks to the WLC.