The Key
Friday, November 5th, 2004
© 1999 Leah S. Whittle
lswhittle@nf.sympatico.ca
I see a child struggling with written word
Not understanding what those words were suppose to be.
Hearing that she was lazy and
that she could be all that she wanted to be.
“Apply yourself” she was told is the only key.
The child struggled all the way through school,
For that key did not show any certainty,
She knew there was a secret – to being all that she wanted to be.
Who knew the real recipe?
Was it the negative things the teachers really said it to be?
That she was too stupid and lazy – to be productive and free,
For all she had to do was use the key.
She knew that keys are meant to unlock dreams and make them reality,
Opening or closing doors is the mere practicality.
For she found out, that it wasn’t as simple as it appeared to be.
The struggles caused the key’s teeth to be worn from trying to be all that she could be,
After a while, there was very little was left there to see.
Then one day she turned on the T.V.,
She heard words that seemed unreal to believe,
It sounded like someone revealed the meaning of the key!
It was Cosby who had real the recipe.
Who would have ever figured that a channel changer could direct her to solve such a mystery.
That key – now held her true reality.
At the age of eighteen, her struggles in school – were diagnosed to be a
Learning Disability!
Ten years have almost passed,
That child has now grown into a beautiful young lady, which I must confess is me.
The education system once pegged me to achieve minimally,
That is not at all what I wanted to be!
I have pursued the post-secondary philosophy.
Achieving my nursing and now graduating from a Bachelor of Social Work Degree.
Master’s and Doctorate are the next notches to be placed on my key.
Who would have thought that this child could learn to be all that she could be via that same key.
I only had the wrong recipe.
That Cosby Key gave me the chance to see that I could achieve more
than what I ever could have imaged to be.
Your son’s story struck many chords with my family,
For their support and your words over the years have moved me to achieve greatly.
The distinction lies in that – I just learn differently.
Which is a more creative scrutiny, don’t you agree?
The threads of my key are refined, often sharpened and reproduced for others to see,
Passing on courage, joy, perservance and pride as the Cosby Key did for me.
So with this, I wish to express my deepest gratitude and admiration,
for a family that gave the world to me through the meaning of my key!
When the tale is finally told … education is truly the key!