Crystal Carson was born with a learning disability and a head full of dreams but other than her parents, no one else could see those dreams ever becoming a reality.

Sadly Crystal was left largely on her own six years ago when her mom was killed in a car accident. Her dad is living in Saskatchewan battling Alzheimer's disease.

Crystal says her parents, especially her mom, always gave her determination, strength, and a never-give-up-on-yourself attitude. They also assured her that it didn't matter if she wasn't able to do well in school or get a job, she would always be loved. Nevertheless she always felt she brought shame to her family.

Crystal she was unable to complete elementary school in spite of her parents' constant support. Her shyness, incessant teasing from her classmates, and the lack of appropriate assistance at school were more than she could overcome; however, years later when she was left on her own after her mom's accident, the lessons her parents taught her came to the fore.

That's when she reached out for help from people who believed in her potential, people who could see her dreams becoming reality.

Eve Reinaltz from Supportive Apartment Living was one of her first supporters. Eve and others at SAL taught her the basics of living on your own; how to pay bills, shop, cook, find furniture, and so on.

Deborah Marshall, a councilor, taught her about setting boundaries and other essential social skills.

Debbie Provencher from Vancouver Island Vocational and Rehabilitation Services (VIVRS) arranged volunteer opportunities for her at Hecate Lodge, Malaspina Lodge, Hospice, SPCA, and soon Crystal began finding opportunities on her own with Rick Hansen, the Child Development Centre, Community Gardens to name a few.

After a while, with support from Debbie, the volunteer opportunities turned into paying jobs, first as a dishwasher,housekeeper and Jill-of-all-trades at Hecate Lodge and, for the past seven months, as a dishwasher at Zellers. She has also found part-time work as a dog walker and pet sitter.

Through all of that time Cheryl Myers, a tutor at Literacy Nanaimo worked patiently to help Crystal reach a dream both she and her parents shared, that one day she would graduate from high school. Today that dream is becoming a reality.

With Cheryl's support, Crystal will soon finish Grade 10 and her goal is to complete Grade 12 within the next five years.

"I want to enjoy the journey," she told me. "I don't want to rush and put too much pressure on myself."

"Enjoy the journey" is just one of a dozen or more important life-lessons I learned during the hour or so I spent with Crystal last week. I want to focus on those lessons in next week's column.

Remember Crystal was born with a mental disability and yet I am certain that no one else has every taught me so much of importance in such a short period of time

Soon after she moved into her own apartment, Crystal posted a list of goals she wanted to achieve, a list the length of your arm, Eve told me. Now, four and a half years later, virtually all of those goals have been accomplished.

She’s now training for one of the last ones, to complete the 10 K Frosty Foot Race this year. She says running helps her feel better, especially if she is feeling overwhelmed.

How many of us have made such a list? How many have forgotten that list within a few weeks or months? Crystal didn't.

When she first met Eve Reinaltz, Crystal could only whisper because she was so shy and afraid. Today she says she is not at all afraid nor is she ashamed to let people know she has a mental disability. Why should she be? She is one of the most powerful teachers I have ever met.