Switching Schools

From kindergarten to fourth grade I went to the Penobscot public school. I though it was great, I had friends, we would play on the playground and it was the best. When I got to third grade I started to notice a difference between me and the other kids, I couldn't read. I was embarrassed to try read in front of anyone. The principle would pull me out of class, in front of everyone, and bring me in the hall to read with me. For a little girl that is so embarrassing.

When my parents started to really notice we had a lot of meetings with the teachers. My dad was not happy with what was said, I can't remember exactly what was said but I think the teachers just though I was stupid (well they probably put it nicer than that). At the time my family was getting by pretty well, but not well enough to pay for my sister and I to go to a private school. By the time I was in the fourth grade I still was really struggling and the teachers started to suggest special help.

My dad got very angry, I would remember him saying, "You don't need special help, these teachers just need to learn how to teach." Even with my dad saying that I felt like I was stupid, and that it was all my fault.

My dad started his own business the year I was born, he loves his job, but he always got home before bed so we could spend some time together. When my parents decided to send us to private school my dad was working all the time, sometimes I wouldn't see him until Sunday. Even though they paid taxes for us to go to public school, they worked really hard for us to go to a better school.

When I started the fifth grade I noticed a difference immediately, I could tell that the teachers really cared. I was so far behind their standards that I had to go back a couple of grades. I got extra help, and I had some amazing teachers, I worked really hard just to be at the standards. When the next year came along I was told that I could go on to the sixth grade! Without the help from others I would never be where I am today.