Laci’s Triumph

To get through her nursing program, Laci learned how to do her homework with babies snuggling on her lap. With a baby, a toddler, and a disabled husband, Laci was a full-time caretaker, but she knew the only way they could get off assistance was if she finished her nursing degree. “Adding more to my plate seemed a bit risky,” Laci says, but it was a risk she was determined to take.

“You won’t know what’s available, if you don’t express a need,” Laci explains. Wisconsin Works provided the financial support that kept her family stable during this time and helped her navigate to key resources to get a great job, including the WIOA program, which helped fund her education. “The programs and services that are offered are amazing and a true blessing to families such as mine,” Laci says, adding that “The staff, especially Jamie and Kristin, were instrumental in me being successful and getting over the hurdles I faced while pursuing my degree.”

These hurdles popped up throughout her education. Her husband went through multiple surgeries and hospital stays while she was in school, and he moved out of state just before finalizing a divorce. Laci’s family also lived in Texas, so she leaned on her FSC support team to triumph over both the heartache and the continued financial distress. She was able to find a part-time job working at the daycare her boys attended, and she stuck with her FSC support team whenever trouble loomed on the horizon. “They honestly cared about me being successful and checked in frequently to see my progress and if I needed any help and or offered advice.”

Laci passed with a 3.73 GPA and was offered a full-time position as a registered nurse at Marshfield Clinic! She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which would help her advance to a managerial or educational level. “I want to continue to be a lifelong learner and expand on my base as much as possible, sharing along the way” she beams.

Laci was just awarded the WIOA Award of Excellence for going above and beyond expectations, and we could not be happier for her! Great job, Laci!