Pathway to a Career

When Celeste Mathewson first reached out to HireAbility Vermont, she was looking for a new job opportunity after she experienced health issues that impeded her ability to safely work her previous job. But, what she found was more than just job listings: it was a network of supportive people that pushed her to pursue the pathway to a new career, the start of which was an education at CCV.

Celeste started taking classes at CCV years ago but chose to forgo college to raise her young children. She jumped into working full time, moving between various jobs, while also being the primary caregiver for her husband as he experienced serious health setbacks over the years. Because of her experiences navigating the healthcare system, Celeste developed a passion for helping others. She expressed this interest in pursuing a career in healthcare to her counselor at HireAbility, who suggested returning to CCV because of the College’s healthcare offerings and the VCAP program.

The Vermont Career Advancement Project (VCAP) is a grant-funded program offered through HireAbility in partnership with CCV that supports students with disabilities to gain education and training. VCAP is focused on career pathways, not just employment, and aims to assist students in building a path to high-wage, high-responsibility careers. These career pathways include earn and learn opportunities, short-term credentials, associate and bachelor’s degrees, and beyond.

Through VCAP, Celeste was offered a multitude of supports on top of what she was already receiving from her CCV advisor. VCAP provides a bonus advisor, financial support, a dedicated technology specialist, and the opportunity for paid work experiences and job shadows. “Knowing that everybody was there pulling for me…it definitely helped my anxiety level stay way lower. It really seemed like they were as invested in my success as I was and I can’t even describe how good that felt,” Celeste said.

Choosing CCV also made sense to Celeste for other reasons: “CCV makes further education affordable and approachable. You can go full time, you can go part time…but the education is just as good as a four-year college. The instructors are experts in their field. They know what they’re talking about and they’re sharing real life experiences and that’s the best way to learn.”

During her time as a CCV student, Celeste was able to start working at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) Corner Medical as an office secretary while taking classes part time. “I never would have applied for the position if I hadn’t been taking the courses I had at CCV,” she said. “I was able to use a lot of what I learned through my schooling to be able to succeed.” Similarly, despite her nerves of returning to school decades after graduating from high school, Celeste was able to use her experiences to her advantage in school. “I think the life experiences over the past 25 years have helped make me a stronger student. It’s given me some unique perspectives, especially regarding healthcare.”

In 2024 Celeste graduated from CCV with a certificate in clinical medical assisting and an associate degree in health science. She now works part-time as a medical assistant at NVRH while maintaining some of her secretarial duties. “I like direct patient care…and being a part of the solution for what they’re struggling with. I like that supportive role of helping people take charge of their conditions,” said Celeste. 

Celeste plans to continue her education at Vermont State University this fall in their nursing program, and has continued at CCV this academic year to complete prerequisite courses. While her education journey may not have been ‘traditional’, Celeste appreciates her path through VCAP and CCV. “I don’t think I would have been able to do any of it if it hadn’t been for the supports within the CCV community, with VCAP, with HireAbility. All of them just worked so well together to help me reach my first goal and realize my potential to go further.”