(gentle music)
- School growing up was always tough for me
and I didn't really understand why.
I could sit and read a book, cover to cover,
in a day and a half without putting it down,
but hand me an English book,
and I read the same page eight times
and couldn't remember a word.
Struggled to complete assignments, to stay on task.
It was just never something that interested me.
I did just enough to get by.
I always assumed when I was in high school,
I'd be a teacher.
My parents were both teachers
and I saw the way they made a difference,
but it just wasn't in my cards.
I wanted to follow in my dad's leadership.
I had taken a position at the board office
to try and draw that path to the supervisory level,
the leadership role that I was looking for.
I was completely unfulfilled.
I was miserable going to work.
And the lack of education was clearly
getting in the way of career advancement for me.
- It was sorta like a groundhog's day,
come in, press a bunch of buttons, and a lot of apathy.
And Paul wore that, physically, you could tell,
just watching him walk.
The weight of being in a position
that was very unsatisfying.
- I was diagnosed with ADHD about 15 years ago,
I'm gonna say at this point.
And the light bulb went off where it was,
okay, this is why.
That you weren't lazy, and you weren't dumb,
and you weren't all those things
that you kind of pounded into your head.
You could learn, you could do those things,
that I just assumed weren't possible for me.
About seven years ago,
I applied for promotion at work
and it was given to a colleague.
- What held Paul back, is Paul didn't have any paperwork.
He didn't have the type of education background
that made these other jobs achievable.
- One of the suggestions was that I further
my post-secondary education.
And the program through OASBO
was the certificate program here,
and that's why I started that journey.
It was really the first time
that I succeeded in trying to learn.
Just a great overall experience in kick starting that.
Okay, I've got more. I can give more.
I can learn more. I can do more.
- I approached him and encouraged him to consider
being a part of the Diploma In School Board Admin,
as I really believed it could help to advance his career.
- It required a university degree,
and for years I've been told without it, you can't do it.
So, I just politely declined
as I thanked her for her suggestion,
and that was the end of it in my mind.
- And then later decided he really wanted to do it,
which I was delighted by,
but we had a few obstacles to face.
Because Paul didn't meet the admissions criteria,
he needed to submit some additional information
for special graduate consideration.
- Well, I received a call from Beverly
saying that the application had been denied,
and I was heartbroken.
It was something that I had allowed myself to want,
and it was just another no,
in a long line of,
you can't do this because you don't have a formal education.
- We regrouped, strategized and decided
that he would appeal the decision.
Something that his pride did not want to do initially.
- I didn't think I could handle another no,
and she was adamant that I could do it
and I was capable and it was time.
- And as well as his appeal,
I would advocate to the committee
that we admit him to the program,
conditional upon him getting a minimum of 70%
for his first course.
- As the weeks grew, and as the assignments went in,
and as the marks came back,
I gained a little more and more confidence.
Once the first course wrapped up
was the first time that I thought maybe,
maybe just maybe, I can get my way through this.
- I think it was like a rebirth for him
that not only could he do it,
but he had a great interest in it, and did very well.
Not everybody's ready at the same time and the same age,
and that's that continuing education.
People come to it at different times in their life,
and for Paul, it was the right time.
- He exceeded 70% on that course,
and all the courses that followed.
The last course he took
in the Diploma in School Board Administration program,
he received the highest grade in the class,
and that was amidst classmates
who had degrees and graduate degrees.
- When I received the diploma,
they asked if I would speak at the convocation.
And again, that's way out of my comfort zone.
My wife insisted that we come and bring our daughter,
so she could see just what I had accomplished.
- [Beverly] And he spoke so eloquently.
Many people's eyes filled with tears
as we listened to Paul talk about the struggles
he had had with learning disabilities.
He came to the program feeling like a fraud,
and he left with tremendous amount of confidence,
and Paul's story of determination and perseverance
reminds us that we can each take steps to improve our lives.
- I think everybody should look at continuing education.
I think it's great to open doors you thought were closed.
Professionally, it has opened a door
and it has changed my job.
I liked my role a lot better. I'm happy to go to work.
I'm kind of excited to use the skills
that I feel I bring to the table.
The only limits you have
are the limits you place on yourself.
(gentle music plays out)