Working for success

As you read these words and form your own thoughts and opinions - and possibly even consider writing a letter to the editor - it's pretty easy to forget that not everybody shares those same skills.

While it's probably something not many people would admit to struggling with, illiteracy is an issue for people here at home, across the province, country and around the world.

And it's not just those people who may seem down on their luck struggling with the ability to comprehend and express themselves via printed material. Even outwardly successful people can have trouble reading, writing, and communicating via text.

Recently, Jacques Demers, a Stanley Cup winning coach, was named a nominee to become a Tory Senator. What makes his story remarkable has been frankness about his lifelong struggle with literacy.

Mr. Demers has spoken publicly over the past few years that he's spent much of his life being functionally illiterate. He has been quoted in the media as saying he hid this fact from almost everyone - from his wife to his co-workers. Since coming forward, Mr. Demers has said he's learned to read, but still takes a bit of time and concentration to do other associated tasks.

His story shows that people can tackle their personal challenges, and that struggling to improve literacy skills doesn't have to impede one's successes in life. After all, Mr. Demers will likely soon be Senator Demers.

That said, now might be a good time to think about the role of learning in our lives and how it's never to late to pick up or improve skills that can improve the quality of our lives.

If literacy is one of the skills you (or somebody else you know) would like to improve or help others develop, Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador offers the following suggestions:

Read with your family;

Update your resume;

Learn a new recipe;

Consider volunteering as a tutor with a literacy group;

Sign up for a course in your community.

It's never too late to learn something new or expand on what we already know. Success is much more likely to come to those ho go out and get it, not for those who sit back and watch the world pass them by.