At 22, Hannah Laflamme felt stuck. A non-traditional homeschooling experience had left her without a high school credential, and her only work history was a job as a personal shopper at Walmart. She wanted to work with young children as an assistant teacher, but without a diploma, that door stayed closed.
So she decided to open it herself.
Hannah enrolled in Adult Education and Literacy classes through Moberly Area Community College to prepare for the HiSET, Missouri’s high school equivalency exam. The studying was demanding, but she stayed with it, and her work paid off. She passed her exams and earned her high school equivalency credential.
With that milestone behind her, Hannah enrolled in WIOA Out-of-School Youth and began participating in Youth Access. She was matched with a work experience placement at A Place to Grow, a local childcare center. From her first day, she showed up eager to learn, quickly picking up classroom routines and building strong bonds with the children. Her reliability, warm energy, and passion for early childhood education made her stand out.
When her work experience hours wrapped up, A Place to Grow hired Hannah on the spot as a permanent, full-time assistant teacher. Today she’s working in the career she dreamed about, with a steady income and a bright future in education.
For Hannah, the credential she once lacked became the first step, not the finish line.
Way to go, Hannah!
Looking for training or a fresh start in a new career? The Central Workforce Development Region offers free services to help you get there. If you’re a young adult between 16 and 24, explore what’s available through our youth programs, or visit our job seeker services to see how we can help.
The Workforce Link Podcast offers forward thinking conversations for the workforce, linking employers and job seekers to a brighter tomorrow. Check out the details here…