My start with HireAbility Vermont:
As a child, I struggled with family situations that were out of my control. That’s why I made it my passion to give back and help kids. It was important for me to teach kids that when they grow up in challenging circumstances, they’re not in that situation forever. They can always make it better. It might be difficult now, but they’ll get through it with the right support. I know that first-hand.
HireAbility Vermont helped me in many ways. When I was hired, I had concerns about getting to work and buying appropriate work attire. My counselor stepped in to help take those pressures off so that I could focus on the job. I’ve never had anyone do that for me before. It was heartfelt and surreal. I thought, ‘why would anyone do that for me?’. But my counselor stood by my side and said, ‘we’ll get through this, we’re going to keep charging’.
They also helped with college. I was always told college was not for me, that it only happened in the movies. HireAbility Vermont supported me with my studies and validated my education because my classes were directly related to my career goals. They helped pay for my textbooks and provided support and guidance by reminding me of how far I’d come. This support helped me maintain a 4.0 GPA and graduate with a triple major.
I couldn’t have landed my current job without HireAbility Vermont, that’s for sure. It’s been life-changing, supporting, and validating. If I didn’t have that validation, there were many times I probably would have given up. Yet, I’ve come so far with the help of my counselor. I’m not going to give up. She won’t let me. She always kept me focused on my career goals and that has kept me going.
My advice for anyone who is thinking about connecting with HireAbility Vermont:
Working with HireAbility Vermont is probably the best decision I’ve ever made. Even if you’re a little hesitant, just give it a shot because you won’t be disappointed. My career and my education goals would not have been so excelled without their encouragement.