January 3, 2010

THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

 

   I first came across the Muskoka Literacy Council in late June of 2008. On June 12, 2008, I was part of the first round of layoffs at Huntsville’s Algonquin Automotive facility, of course, not knowing that just one year later Algonquin would close permanently.  One of the first things I realized was after spending ten and a half years on the various assembly lines; I had very little day to day contact with computers. It was obvious to me, whatever job or career path I chose in the future, I had to upgrade my computer knowledge.

   Within a week of being laid off I made a couple of phone calls to see if there were any places in Huntsville that offered classes where I could upgrade my computer skills. It was suggested I try the Muskoka Literacy Council. I discovered they had classes twice a week, for both beginners and those with more advanced computer skills. I immediately signed up and for the better part of a year I attended classes twice a week. I started off learning the basics and eventually on to learning about Word, Excel, and Power Point.

   While I was taking the computer classes, I was also deciding what I wanted to do with my future. In the end, I decided to go back to school. I’m currently attending Loyalist College in Belleville, taking Radio Broadcasting under the province’s Second Career Program. I have nine years previous radio experience, so going back to school was a matter of being brought up to date on the technology side of the business, which not surprisingly, has become computer based. It didn’t take more than the first couple of weeks into the fall semester at Loyalist to know I made the right decision to upgrade my computer skills.  It’s made my life a lot easier. Almost everything you do, from researching topics to typing up reports, you rely on the computer every day.

   So I say a big “Thank You” to all the staff and volunteer instructors at the Muskoka Literacy Council. Thanks for the help and thanks for making a difference! Keep up the good work!

 

Sincerely,

Brian Decaire