“I have come to realize that some of the worst times in life actually prepare you for some of the best and biggest blessings,” says Miriam. Her parents divorced when she was ten, leaving her mother with four children and tight finances. As a result of frequent moves and heath struggles, young Miriam had trouble keeping up in school. She never knew that one day she would be the first in her family to graduate college.
Miriam joined WIOA to achieve her lifelong dream of starting a career in healthcare. Her WIOA Career Planner, Shelby, immediately noticed Miriam’s compassion and talent in the field.
“WIOA helped me in more ways than I could have ever imagined,” says Miriam. “Shelby and WIOA gave me financial help, guidance, structure, resources, and even emotional support. I received help with tuition, books, and gas cost to and from school. Through my monthly meetings, texts, and phone calls I… navigated things like financial aid, signing up for classes, job shadows, and project deadlines.”
Determined to get her start in healthcare, Miriam seized every opportunity to improve her credentials. She worked as a certified nursing assistant throughout college, set goals with WIOA, and even made the Dean’s List during her last semester.
Her hard work quickly paid off. Before graduating, Miriam secured a full-time position as a Neurodiagnostic Technologist with Marshfield Medical Center. A few months later, she graduated from FVTC with with her Associate Degree in Applied Science. By working with WIOA, Miriam was able to maintain all of her bills and has a plan for the future.
Miriam wants anyone struggling with anxiety to know that they can find relief while achieving their dreams, too. “It feels so good to have set that goal and to finally graduate,” says Miriam. She’s set a lot of great goals with us, “but I think my favorite,” she says “was just to learn how to handle and cope with my stress and anxiety. Working through these issues and finding relief has been such a huge accomplishment to me.”
Congratulations, Miriam!