Getting  onto the freeway is scary enough, but when you're at one of those spots that just doesn't have enough on-ramp to get up to speed, it's downright dangerous! I did that the other day and it was incredibly frustrating! I felt like everyone was honking, already at full speed, and my poor Prius is doing its best to hit highway speeds as fast as possible (while maintaining fuel efficiency, of course). Call me magnanimous that I didn't honk back, but I hate those ramps. I hate the feeling of being behind, in the way, too slow.

The ABL program uses the on-ramp analogy to describe what we do for our adult learners. We're the on-ramp, not the destination. We help people get up to speed so they can join the next class or the job training or the promotion. Sometimes it needs to be a long on-ramp to gain enough momentum, but that's okay. As long as we get up to speed and hit the highway fully prepared.

Our Reading Seed kids need an on-ramp, too. They might already feel the pressure of being "too slow" or "in the way" or getting left behind. They just need a longer on-ramp--more read-alouds, more really good books, more time with a trusted friend who won't judge them. It's okay. As long as we get up to speed.

Just today, I realized that this work is an on-ramp for people, too. I've written several reference letters this year for former volunteers who are starting new jobs or graduate school programs. One man tutored for a year and a half before moving away almost five years ago. This spring he emailed me to request a letter for graduate school admission. His work with adult learners was the on-ramp to a new field of study. "A part of the inspiration to enter these programs was the incredible experience I shared with (my student) in seeing her get her driver's permit, voter registration and read her first novel...It demonstrated to me the importance of improving individual and group social welfare through direct practice in the form of tutoring." Another former tutor was just accepted to graduate programs in business and finance with the hopes of working in community literacy programs or nonprofits that teach financial and business literacy and work for social justice. Their experiences shifted their perspectives and goals and became the on-ramp to new pursuits. I feel proud to have had a part in that.

Next time you merge onto the freeway, think about how much speed you have to attain in a short amount of time, and how grateful you are for long on-ramps ... and patient drivers around you.

Thank you for providing safe on-ramps for our learners.