Grace McMenamin has been a real estate broker since 1986, is a volunteer with Literacy Volunteers of Tompkins County, and is trying to help her niece find the pleasure of books. She resides in West Danby.
Once upon a time there was a wonderful family: a mom, dad, brother and sister. They thought their family was set until along came another child, a little girl. Of course, she was loved and adored. This little girl grew up in a warm and caring family.
Her parents were unable to help with her with homework after about the second grade. Neither her parents nor her brother and sister had graduated high school. She struggled through the early grades, working extra hard to do well. In 6th grade she was put into the 5th grade reading class, not knowing why. Her friends made fun of her but she kept on trying.
In high school she again applied herself and graduated in the top third of her class. There was never any discussion about her going to college. The high school counselor never discussed it. Her parents never discussed it. Her parents were thrilled that she graduated high school. But her mother thought she should learn to type and made her go to a local business school. She then starting working and married, helping her husband earn his degree.
Twenty years later she found herself divorced and starting life over again. Because of her profession, she met many interesting people. Her career exposed her to different cultures and many highly educated individuals. During this time, someone she met through her business lent her a book on tape. She enjoyed it so much, she wanted to know where to get more. She learned that the library was the place to borrow as many as she wanted. She was in her 40's and had never been in a public library. As a child she had never known the pleasures of reading.
At this point she discovered many things about her life. She learned that she is dyslexic and that she came from a family of non-readers. No one in her family read because they couldn't. Her family watched television for entertainment. She enjoyed books on tape because she was never read to as a child. It was such a pleasure to have someone finally read to her after all these years.
These insights gave her the courage to explore other interests. She started to learn about opera and music. She volunteers at a local museum and learns about art and has since gone to many other famous museums. Again, as a child, she never learned about the arts with her parents.
Well, you might think that this gal had a horrible life, but actually her life has turned out quite well. I am that little girl. I have a great family, wonderful friends, and an interesting career. Even though my parents couldn't help me with my education, they taught me about family and goodness and love. They taught me about generosity, how to treat other people and how to be a friend. They made me work out problems using common sense and fairness. They taught me skills for life.
I also have the opportunity to be a Literacy Volunteer. I am a Literacy Volunteer to honor my parents. If they had the opportunity to learn to read, their lives might have been easier. Perhaps they would have read to me. Perhaps my brother and sister and I would have gone to college and had easier lives too. I volunteer so that my student will be able to read to her grandchildren, and they may have a better start in life. And, I volunteer because it makes me feel good. I am not an educator but my student doesn't care. She is happy that I try my best to help her learn to read and learn to write at even the most basic level. It makes her happy to know that someone cares. How can that not thrill me!
There are many ways to make a difference, to bring love and kindness and hope to an aching world. This is just my story and my way. What is your story and what is your way? I hope this inspires you to find it.
Family Reading Partnership
Ithaca, New York
Phone: 607-277-8602
Email: office@familyreading.org
