Jeannette grew up in a suburb outside of Philadelphia. Although she earned her high school diploma, she recalls teachers lacking patience as she struggled to learn in spite of her dyslexia and ADHD.
“Why couldn’t my teachers have taken a little extra time to explain things to me?” Jeanette wondered.
Jeanette entered the workforce after graduation. She eventually moved to Vermont and worked in the food service industry. She currently lives in Rutland with her two children, ages 12 and 15. She had to leave her last job at McDonald’s because the harsh, bleach-based agents used to clean surfaces triggered her allergies and led to debilitating migraines. She asked and learned that strict restaurant hygiene rules precluded use of milder cleaners.
Today, Jeanette is enrolled in classes and employment support services via Vermont Adult Learning (VAL). Her goal is to brush up on reading and writing while preparing for a fulfilling career that meets her skills and talents. She leans toward a job in the field of healthcare.
“The staff at VAL are more than willing to go above and beyond to help students,” Jeanette said. “Ginny (VAL teacher) took the extra time to sit with me and break things down so I could really understand them. Haley (Employment Specialist) is amazing. We talk about goals and I take (career-related) assessments. I don’t want to rush the process. I want to really prepare for my next job.”
“Jeanette set a career goal for herself and has been working hard each week at progressing toward it,” Haley said. “I am inspired by her desire to grow not just for herself but for her kids as well.”
Learn more about Vermont Adult Learning at www.vtadultlearning.org.