File MS-13-88, Box 1, OVMV0005DVD - Interview with John Paterson

John Paterson was 71 years old when he was interviewed by the Our Voices Matter Project. John learned spelling and math at a young age with the assistance of his father. He skipped grade 1 and went from grade 6 to grade 9. His father knew he was going to die and wanted John to get a good education to support the family but John was bullied at school and has mostly negative memories of his childhood. He graduated from grade 10 at age 13 and went into a collegiate Institute in Prince Edward Island, where his father encouraged him to take grade 11 and 12 together, but it was too much for John and he got sick. He went away to stay with his grandparents in the country. John returned to school and graduated at age 14. John went to university at 16 but did poorly at his studies. He dropped out of college to work; eventually he got his engineering diploma but not his degree, a disappointment to his father and family.

John describes himself as troubled in college and later in life he "got in trouble" and started seeing a psychiatrist. He has had therapy all his life since seeing the psychiatrist. John sees a nurse now.

John feels he is in recovery "to a degree." He is not outgoing with people except at Connections Clubhouse, and isn’t very close to his family. John spends his time at Connections and watching television. John never married.