For budding writers having a story published in a widely read publication is always a goal. For Fred Fruehan he never imagined his big break would come thanks to his relationship with Belfast Adult & Community Education (www.belfast.maineadulted.org).
At sixteen Fred dropped out of high school, over the years he had a host of jobs including being a farm worker and a slaughterhouse butcher, none were leading to a professional career that would truly satisfy him. At 37 years old he was introduced to the College Connection Program at Belfast Adult and Community Education. College Connection, part of the Maine College Transitions Program (www.maineadulted.org) provides an opportunity for individuals who wish to prepare for a college career to update a variety of academic skills.
One of Fred’s instructors at Belfast Adult Education was well aware of Fred’s interest in becoming a writer, when an email came across her desk she knew it was something that would interest him. “I was encouraged to write a story for The Change Agent by my College Connection Instructor Carolyn Haskell”, recalls Fred.
According to its website (www.nelrc.org/changeagent) The Change Agent is a social justice newspaper published twice a year. It provides cutting edge resources for teaching social issues, powerful student writing that inspires discussion, and ready to use lesson plans-all oriented toward a multi-level audience.
Fred wasn’t quite sure the publication was exactly what he was looking for. “I went to their web site and was disappointed by their topic of call for articles, ‘Coming Home From War.’ I am not a war veteran and have limited experience with other war veterans. I thought I had nothing to write about.”
When thinking about the topic he was reminded of stories that his father would tell about his friend Jim Gavlock*, a veteran of the Vietnam War. After conducting research, reading private letters and talking with family members, Fred wrote “Vietnam: A Life Rewritten” and submitted it to The Change Agent.
“Fred’s haunting and vivid essay, “Vietnam: A Life Rewritten” immediately caught my eye when it came in as a submission to The Change Agent’s special issue on veterans and refugees”, says Cynthia Peters, editor at The Change Agent. “Amidst scores of submissions, Fuehan’s essay stood out as a moving and powerful telling of how war re-writes people’s lives forever. The Change Agent is privileged to include such a literary personal essay written by an adult learner in Maine and destined to be read by thousands of adult learners nationwide.”
“Vietnam: A Life Rewritten” tells the story of a pair friends separated by war and the long lasting effects that war all too often has on friends and family. The accounts in the essay are accurate, names have been changed to protect their privacy, the story can be read at www.nelrc.org/changeagent/toc.htm. Fred’s essay appears on page 28 and 29.
When asked about why The Change Agent chose this particular editorial focus, Cynthia Peters explained it this way. “We choose themes based on what we think are relevant and meaningful to adult learners across the country. For the March 2010 issue, we decided to focus on veterans and refugees because so many people in the world of adult education have been directly or indirectly affected by war. The current war(s) in Iraq and Afghanistan have been going on for 7-8 years, and many adult learners either fought in these wars themselves or have family members fighting in them. Also, adult ed. classes are full of students who have fled war in their country of origin.”
While excited about becoming a published author, Fred is keeping grounded. He quit his fulltime job at a slaughterhouse to pursue his education at the University of Maine-Augusta, Bachelor of Arts English Program. He and his girlfriend live in the town of Burketville, in a small cabin in the woods.
“When I enrolled in College Connection last fall, I had no idea that I would be attending UMA the following spring. The lessons I learned at CC prepared me well for college. I don’t believe I would be in a degree program if it weren’t for CC. I have slowly gained a new identity as a student and life long learner; for that I will always be grateful.”
For those interested in learning more about Maine Adult Education visit www.maineadulteducation.org. Type in your zip code and programs near where you live will be displayed.
