Due to a childhood illness, William Gray only attended school for one-and-a-half years. Having never learned to read or write, he said, �I was living behind closed doors.�

In 1986 those doors slowly began to open. �When I worked in the dietary department at UVA, I mopped floors but when I was moved to assembly line in cafeteria, I couldn�t read the menus. I had to tell the boss that I couldn�t read so they put me back to hauling trash and mopping floors.� William�s boss eventually came to him and asked if he would like to seek help for his trouble with reading. He worked with a tutor in the cafeteria of the UVA hospital for one year and then joined an adult education class. It was there that he was introduced to LVA-Charlottesville/Albemarle, VA, and began his journey towards learning to read and write.

During his 15 years as an LVA-C/A student, William has made great progress in his reading and comprehension skills. His tutors praise and admire his dedication to learning. William feels better about himself now that he has learned to read and write. �Reading gave me more independence. I wouldn�t take anything for it,� he said.

William has achieved many of his reading, writing, and learning goals. He is determined to make up what he missed by having to leave school so early. William has done more than learn how to read and write, he has become an active member in the LVA-C/A community. He has been a member of the LVA-C/A board for six years, organized and led a local student support group, and helped with tutor trainings. William also participates in a weekly book group with three other LVA students, where they read �classic� novels and African-American literature. These activities have won him many awards. He was honored the Jeannie P. Baliles Award in Literacy as Outstanding Adult Learner in the Commonwealth, in 2000. He also earned the Student Leadership Award at the Virginia Literacy Coalition�s Celebration of Literacy: Wishes 2000.

William is married with one son, and has worked as a driver for UVA hospital for 35 years. He no longer feels as though he is behind closed doors. �I always want to be put out in the open,� he said. �I don�t even like to be tutored with the door fastened anymore.� William has made great progress and urges other adults to learn to read.

�There was a woman who laughed at me when I was being tutored in the cafeteria and when I left that job, she was still there. I said, �See y�all later. I�ve got bigger and better things to do.��

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