News Article

CNA Student Wins Literacy Award


10/7/2002 2:20:17 PM


Kelly Lambert and her daughter Paulina at the Delta in St. John’s, where Lambert accepted her 2002 Canada Post Literacy Award. Her acceptance speech evoked a standing ovation.

By Tanya Alexander

October 3, 2002 - Kelly Lambert is the winner of the 2002 Canada Post Individual Literacy Achievement Award.

The Southport, Newfoundland native is currently enrolled in the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program at the Clarenville campus of College of the North Atlantic. It is for her efforts in this program that she has been acknowledged.

The award includes a computer system and an invitation to the award ceremony held in September at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s, where she was presented with a Certificate of Achievement from Minister of Education Judy Foote.

Lambert brought members of her proud family, including her daughter Paulina. It was an incredible moment when she accepted the award.

“I gave my speech and received a standing ovation. I couldn’t believe it!”

Lambert had always wanted to return to school after she quit high school in the 1980s before completing Grade 10. She had made several attempts at returning in the ensuing years, but never stuck with it.

“When I quit high school, my parents didn’t agree, but allowed me to make my own decision. I promised them that I would go back eventually.”

However, when her mother passed away in ’94, then her father in ’97, she still hadn’t completed her education. She decided to honour their memory by keeping her promise. She enrolled in the Clarenville campus’ ABE program in 2000 and hasn’t looked back. She expects to graduate by Christmas.

Lambert can’t believe how far she’s come in two years. She realizes that with one step, she has changed her life, and that of her daughter.

“Everything has changed. I won a scholarship and an achievement award from the school, given to me at the graduation ceremonies this year,” she says.

“It’s to acknowledge how well you do with your grades and work habits.”

The ABE Achievement Award, valued at $125, is one offered by the campus to ABE students who have displayed dedication and effort, and have shown a marked progress in the ABE program, as well as in overall academic performance. (Classmate Donald Gordon was co-recipient of this award).

Lambert is now getting out into the community with her newfound zest.

“I’m volunteering on the Victims Services Advisory Committee in Clarenville, serving as Chairperson since June 2002.”

She says that she was in an abusive relationship once, and the committee lent a guiding hand to her.

“Now I want to help others, as I have been helped along the way.”

The school she is attending has certainly helped her along the way, and has a lot to do with her success, says Lambert.

“The staff, faculty, and students at College of the North Atlantic have all been wonderful. I mean, I worked hard to get where I am now, but they made all the difference.”

Lambert says that a fellow student was a major inspiration. Richard Miller is the recipient of last year’s Canada Post Individual Literacy Achievement Award. He encouraged her throughout the program.

“His story inspired me, and he motivated me a lot. He told me right away that he knew I was going to do well.”

Miller’s story is a poignant one. He could barely write his own name a decade ago. He had a wakeup call when his small son had a medical emergency and Miller couldn’t find the doctor’s number in the phone book. His son nearly lost his finger, and could have lost his life. Miller decided that he would have no part in allowing that to happen, and so began learning to read and write “from scratch.”

Today, Miller is nearly finished his study with ABE at the Clarenville campus, and plans to enroll in the Fish and Wildlife program at College of the North Atlantic. He travels to other campuses and high schools throughout the province to encourage students to complete their education, serves on the Student Council at the college, and tutors fellow students.

He could see the potential in Lambert when she first enrolled at the campus, but she was shy and withdrawn.

“I recall Kelly. She was shy and hardly spoke. I told her that she could handle it, and that I’d help her,” says Miller.

Not only did she do well with her studies, he says, but she became class representative and an excellent public speaker.

“She’s come a long way – and she deserves her awards!”

Nick Donovan is one of the campus’ ABE instructors. He says that to some, the achievement of a high school equivalence may not seem like a big deal, but you really have to put it into perspective.

“You measure someone’s success relative to where they were when they started,” he says.

“When Kelly first came to class, her confidence level was extremely low. It took the better part of the year for her to feel comfortable enough in her surroundings to take her coat off.”

Donovan says that in the area of interpersonal relationships and communication, Lambert began to make strides once she gained her confidence.

“It was something that took a long time – just to get up in front of the class to introduce herself was difficult for her,” he says.

“But if you could have seen her give her acceptance speech for her Canada Post Award… it was out of this world!”

Donovan says that often times the desire for education goes hand in hand with self worth, and that it’s a state of mind that continues on for generations.

“Kelly is the first one in a family of 10 to have completed her high school education. She’s gone on to become active within the community and to become an excellent role model for her daughter,” says Donovan.

“The relative gain here is monumental!”

The road hasn’t been an easy one, says Lambert, but with the support of CNA faculty, staff and fellow students, along with family, she feels she has made it through the most difficult part. There is one person in particular to whom she attributes much of her strength.

“My daughter Paulina has motivated me to keep with my ABE program when times were tough,” says Lambert.

“She has been a real blessing.”

The next step for Lambert is to graduate from ABE by Christmas, spend some time with her daughter, then move on to the next phase of her life. She has already been accepted for the Office Administration program at College of the North Atlantic, and will begin the program in the fall of 2003.

Lambert reflects on how the time has flown, and offers advice to those who may be in the place she was.

“If you have something you really want to do, you have to push it. Work hard, and you’ll get there.”

Her mom and dad would be very proud.

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Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929

or

Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928