“Life Can Change” – Marty, an adult emerging reader and writer, shares his story

Back in the years before I was in eighth grade, I was doing good in school. At first I was moving right along from first grade to fourth. Then things changed. I started to notice that my reading was bad but I still kept moving up grades even though I was getting C’s and F’s (except for my Art class where I got A’s and A-pluses). I did not want to go to the next grade! I was not ready for it. My reading and spelling were making me feel ashamed.

Then, at the end of eighth grade, my teacher told me I would be going on to high school the next year. I remember this like it was yesterday. I said to Mrs. Flores, “I can’t go to high school,” and she asked, “Why not?”

I said, “Because I can’t spell or read good,” and she replied, “You will be okay for you have passed the grade.”

I was mad for the rest of the day and at the end of my last class I went to the principal’s office and spoke to Mr. Baum about my problem. He said, “Well, Marty, we need the room.”

“The room?” I asked. He said, “Yes, for the new kids who are coming in.” I looked at him and walked out of his office for the very last time and that is when my life first changed.

I went into a world of rebellion. In high school I met other teenagers like myself, and they would drink beer before and after class. That is when I started to drink as well and it went on for the last years of my school days, as a young man and even as I got older.

Then, three years ago, on January 31st, 2009, I had my last beer but I didn’t know it yet. Yes, I had always prayed that I would stop drinking for many years. Then, on February 1st, a new morning came to me; my prayers were answered! I woke up that morning and it seemed like something was missing. For a few days I was not sure why I felt like that and then one night I thought, “I have not wanted a beer or a smoke at all!” I didn’t feel a need for a beer. It was just gone!! Even if someone got me mad, there was no desire for it, none at all. I was so content knowing that 31 years of drinking were behind me and gone!

I’m so happy I made it through all of that part of my life. Now, here I am at Literacy Volunteers of Tucson getting help. I’m going to be able to write a letter to my mom for the first time ever. Some day I will get my G.E.D. that I’ve been wanting since I was a kid.

Not knowing what’s going to happen in the future is okay because right now all I have is my present and I will keep an open mind about what I have at this time in my life. It feels good knowing I’m getting help for my spelling, reading and math from my new family here at L.V.T. I am liking it more and more!

The tutors here are helping us students a lot. I love that they care. I have also been asked to be a Student Ambassador for L.V.T. At first I felt nervous and I told Susan, “I might mess up,” since I didn’t know what an ambassador does. But she gave me the confidence I needed so I said, “All right, I’ll do it.”

I know this is going to help me also to get out of myself. That is what I mean by keeping an open mind and it’s what we all need. In fact, just the other week I was asked to help a new student who was coming in for her first day. I didn’t hesitate to tell Susan “Yes,” right away. Susan introduced Francis to me and at first I saw in her eyes that she was nervous and wanting help as I did. I simply told her how the students tend to help each other, and that the tutors are very helpful as well and not to be ashamed to ask questions, for all of us students have needs in different places. Finally I told her “whatever you do, don’t leave! Give yourself some time here to see for yourself that you are changing.” Yes, there is so much to think about now and I’m learning that it’s not all about me! I’m seeing the future and it looks good! I am surrounded by people who care and who are helping me to improve my life and I love them all. So this is my new Life for Changes. I have always heard that it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish!

~ Marty Calanche is a student in many classes at LVT. He is also a student ambassador and has recently started a new role as tutor trainer for the Basic Literacy program! He attends all the training sessions for the new tutors and helps them to understand our adult learners and our program. Thank you, Marty! You’re making a huge difference here for our students and our tutors!

For more stories by our adult Basic Literacy students, click here to read Literacy Ventures of Tucson, a magazine by and about LVT students. Congratulations on a wonderful fourth issue just released! This magazine contains student works – stories, poems and essays, a “Good News!” section to share students’ successes and achievements and a section filled with “Tips, Notes and Ideas” about being a successful LVT student. The magazine is published online here, and print copies are available at the Literacy Connects/Literacy Volunteers office.

Also, the Basic Literacy Writer’s Workshop class has their own website! It’s called Written Voices.  See each student’s page for photos and essays.

Thanks to all the students and volunteers who are making this happen!