The first challenge

For the next few weeks, anyway, I plan to focus on the past. There's no point in blogging about the present, when I should really tell my story from the beginning to the end. So, this is the warning!

In the spring of 2002, I applied to get into Red River College. I sent off my application form and the required fees. Several weeks later, a envelope arrived in the mail, with three sheets of paper as follows (for various reasons, contact information, identifying information will be removed):

April 9, 2002

Dear Applicant:

RE: Library and Information Technology

Thank you for applying to Red River College. Your application will be processed for the 2002 intake of the above program. Information regarding the required reading skills assessment test is enclosed.

Note: Pay the $25.00 non-refundable assessment fee in the Controller's Department, C212, prior to writing the assessment test. Your validated Assessment Fee Payment Form must be received by the Assessment Centre prior to your test date. The Assessment Fee Payment Form is attached.

If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact Enrolment Services.

***************************************************************************

Dear Applicant

RE: Reading Skills Assessment

The program you have applied for requires students to read textbooks, articles, journals and instructional packages at a fairly high level of proficiency as there is a considerable amount of material to cover in a short period of time. Due to the complexity of the reading material, the Selection Committee requests that you write a Reading Skills Assessment test. Your test results MAY indicate that a 40 hour Reading Comprehension and Study Skills course, offered through Continuing Education, would be required prior to entry.

Your test is scheduled for:

DATE: MONDAY, MAY 06, 2002

TIME: 9:00 AM

PLACE: ASSESSMENT CENTRE - BUILDING D, ROOM 107

Testing usually takes about an hour. Parking is available in the East Lot (see map on reverse). The fee for parking is $1.00 (loonies only) for one hour.

Note: There is a charge of $25.00 to write the reading assessment test. Submit the attached Assessment Fee Payment Form with your payment to the Controller's Department, C212. The validated form must be received by the Assessment Centre, D107, before you write the test. Please allow sufficient time to pay the $25.00 assessment fee in the Controller's Department, C212, and to find parking and the room as testing will commence promptly at the time given.

If you are unable to attend this test, contact to re-schedule.

P.S. Please bring your Social Insurance Number with you to the testing.

So, this was the beginning of everything. May 6, 2002, is all pretty much a haze. I remember that we set off to Winnipeg early in the morning, as my grandparents were visiting from England at the time, and it just happened that that was the very same day that they were beginning their journey home, so it wasn't that big of a deal for my dad to drive to Winnipeg just for me! We would have got to the college in reasonable time, and to find out where everything was.

I remember though that it wasn't just for the Library and Information Technology program that was being tested for that day. I remember that I got chatting to a student who was hoping to go into the nursing program, and that she would be tasking the same test that I was.

As for the test ... I believe that there were some extracts that I had to read, and then to answer a series of questions regarding them. I remember coming out and not feeling that confident.

As Cleopatra sang, "Life ain't easy".

What happened? What was the result of the test?

That, hopefully, will be revealed tomorrow...