After several years of working in the food industry, Maggie Vallieres was ready for a change. The 32-year-old mom craved a satisfying job that would both support her new family and keep her on her toes. She came to A-B Tech unsure of what she wanted to do. Hours later, after completing a skills test with a career counselor, she finally had a plan.
“She introduced me to Occupational Therapy,” Vallieres said. “I had never heard of it and was instantly intrigued and excited. I loved the fact that it has aspects of psychology and creativity while also offering secure employment in the medical field.”
Now, two years later, Vallieres is graduating with her degree and an academic achievement award for excellence in interpersonal relations, academics, and leadership.
Balancing homework with being a wife and mother has not always been easy. Some nights, Vallieres had to choose between spending time with her daughter and doing homework. If under a work deadline, she often struggled with feelings of guilt at missing out on precious time with her 5-year-old. “I had to learn different self-talk and change my outlook/expectations to let that go and continue on without beating myself up,” she said.
Perhaps the greatest challenge came after Hurricane Helene when Vallieres’ husband injured his back and was unable to work for two months. Vallieres is grateful to A-B Tech staff and instructors who reached out to see how she was doing and helped connect her with grants and scholarships that allowed her to continue her classes.
“It was wonderful to be surrounded by supportive individuals in my cohort and teachers who wanted each of us to succeed,” she said.
Now approaching the finish line, Vallieres is “proud, joyful, and excited” to be starting a new career. Being a student at A-B Tech gave her a boost of confidence, demonstrating the power of her strengths. Having begun a psychology degree in her twenties, she hopes to finish it and then pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy, business, or health administration.
“I’ve proven to myself through this program what I can accomplish, and I am hungry for more,” she said.
In the meantime, Vallieres is excited to begin a new career that offers many paths and opportunities to help others.
“My favorite part of OTA is the creative freedom that the job brings,” she said. “There are so many different populations to work with or paths you can take. I love that it can be tailored to the needs of each specific patient, and we get to work together to help them reach goals that are truly important to them and impactful to their well-being in life.”