I was inspired by a young man that I happened to meet in my community. He was about to graduate, but could not read. That young man had been passed through the education system, ironically because he was such an exceptional and well-liked young man. For me, this gentleman made such an impression on me that I had no choice but to help him. So, we got him a tutor and surprisingly, he was like a sponge. He began to learn to read and so much more at such a rapid pace. In talking with him, he stated that he was lead to believe he could not learn, so instead of being held back, he would pass from grade to grade in special education. That proved to be his downfall, because in the end, he could not go to the next level without the basic skills he was “excused” from learning. He was determined to make a better life for himself and his family. He worked hard and we followed him closely from learning to read, to getting his high school diploma, to entering college and to assisting him with obtaining college aid, to ensuring he maintains a certain level of excellence in college. In other words, the “to” in Literacy to Legacy, means that we will stay with each participant every step of the way. Now, he is a college junior with a 3.0 GPA and looking forward to his last year of college and a lifetime of success. And there you can actually see literacy to legacy put into action and making a huge difference!
-Diana Lynch