As many of you already know, 2002 was a challenging and interesting year for me as an adult learner. On January 17, 2002, I started in the New College of San Francisco Weekend B.A. Completion Program. The following December 18, I turned in my final senior project/thesis on Women in Literacy. A few weeks later I received from my advisor Harry Britt at New College my Narrative Learning Evaluation with my final passing grade, declaring a successful of completion of the program.
     I am writing this piece as a way of saying Thank You to all the people who supported and believed in me throughout this past year while I was in school. But mostly, I want to praise three incredible Project Read tutors. Lisa Doherty, who was my main tutor, kept me organized and on track; Adrienne Atiles only worked with me a short time, but taught me new tools to reading from a historical perspective; and finally Katy Colpetzer, who helped me bring clarity to my writing.
     Although this Bachelor of Arts degree from the State of California will have only one name on it when I receive it, in reality it will really belong to the whole adult literacy community. Because without the adult literacy community, none of this would have been possible.
     Thanks!  —  Leon Veal