The new year offers an opportunity to reflect upon aspirations—and commit to the work needed to achieve them. Students of all ages are putting in the effort to bring their goals to fruition. Education continues to shape pathways for learners at every stage, and 2026 brings new possibilities for learning of all kinds. The stories revisited below highlight seven student experiences.
Full-time firefighting is in Bailey’s future
Bailey Shepard’s goal grew from the sense of belonging he felt the minute he put on a firefighter’s helmet as a child. As he matured, he knew he would turn his volunteer service into a full-time career as a firefighter and EMT. “I’d love to do it full time. I’m just waiting for a job to open up somewhere,” he says.
In high school, Bailey attended a student leadership retreat organized by VSAC. It turned out to be a transformative experience, giving him the skills he needed to cement his lifelong commitment to helping others. He joined a volunteer fire department as soon as he turned 16 and attributes his dedication to the guidance and leadership experience he gained from his VSAC program. “A big part of the job is taking charge in emergency response situations. I use those leadership skills I built with VSAC almost every day,” he shared.
As he looks to his future, Bailey is determined to continue making a difference for others.
OJ Dreams of Hollywood or opening his own business
OJ Daring is open to where his path will take him, including Hollywood. A senior at Champlain College, OJ says, “I have a lot of different ideas. Hollywood has always been the dream, but I could also see myself going the niche route—working in marketing for a company or starting a business of my own. Most important is being able to support myself,” he says.
OJ is studying film and finance. He goes deeply into editing videos and working on a variety of film projects. An alumni of VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program, OJ says the support he received getting into and getting started at Champlain made all the difference. “The process was smooth for me because of VSAC. If I didn’t have that, I would have had a harder time. They helped me through the confusion, answered my questions, and made me feel confident.”
He’s finishing his senior year this semester. As to whether his path will take him to Hollywood, to owning his own business, working in marketing, or something else? Only time will tell. Either way, OJ is excited for a bright future.
On the farm or in the field is where Hailey wants to be
Hailey Bartlett is certain about one thing: she’s not interested in a desk job. Instead, she’s preparing for a hands-on career working with animals—as a veterinarian, veterinary technician, or animal nutritionist. What matters most to her is being directly involved with animal care and putting her animal science studies to practical use.
Hailey is currently in her first year at SUNY Cobleskill. She grew up around agriculture, showing animals through 4-H and spending much of her time with animal companions. During some of the most challenging periods of her high school years, working with animals—especially calves—became a positive and grounding outlet. She applied to college as an independent student and relied on VSAC for guidance in navigating the financial aid process, including completing the FAFSA and applying for scholarships.
Her experiences with animals and farm life have helped clarify the path she wants to pursue. Hailey’s journey is an exciting one, shaped by her interests.
Maria is building an engineering career, one proton at a time
Maria Tye first heard the words “chemical engineering” in high school, after excelling in chemistry and being encouraged to explore the field. She knew she wanted a stable future and set out to make it happen, despite challenges at home and financial hurdles. Maria spent hours researching colleges, completing applications, and applying for scholarships and grants. She balanced schoolwork with track, summer jobs in manufacturing, and internships, gaining hands-on experience while building the skills needed for her career.
When financial barriers threatened to derail her plans, she sought creative solutions, relying on family and mentors to help with loans. College demanded persistence, teamwork, and self-advocacy, and Maria leaned on peers and support systems to navigate a rigorous program and personal challenges.
Today, as a project engineer at Amphenol Aerospace, she bridges disciplines and works on innovative projects—proof that dedication, resourcefulness, and hard work can turn aspirations into reality.
Ailyn is headed toward the ocean
Ailyn Langley is confident her future lies with the ocean. “It’s fascinating and beautiful and I want to be able to look deeper into it,” she shares.
A first-generation student, she’s in her first year at Dartmouth College where she’s focusing on marine biology and neuroscience. She grew up in West Fairlee and always gravitated toward nature and especially the world underwater. “Many parts of the ocean are misunderstood,” she says. Ailyn is determined to explore those things and has set great goals for herself in life and for her time at Dartmouth, including learning how to dive.
She’s well on the way to achieving her dreams, one class at a time.
Amara and Nick share roots, but have different goals
Twins Amara Chester and Nick Armstrong grew up in Pownal. Encouraged by their mother to explore beyond their hometown, both understood early that education could open doors—but reaching their goals required effort.
Amara discovered her passion for speech pathology through a high school human services class and a career skills assessment. She researched colleges, applied widely, and spent hours completing scholarship applications and financial aid forms to make attending Biola University in California possible. Today, she works in cognitive therapy, helping individuals recover from brain injuries while balancing life as a new mom.
Nick explored multiple interests before finding real estate through a college internship and hands-on home renovation experience. He carefully weighed schools, navigated applications and financial aid, and now works as a broker, manages investment properties, and plans to expand his business.
Amara and Nick’s dedication shows that ambition, hard work, and the right support can turn goals into reality.
Every day, remarkable students of all ages demonstrate the power of grit and resilience. Wherever you are in life, educational opportunities are available to you. With guidance and resources, there’s no limit to what learning can achieve. Whatever your educational path, VSAC can help!
The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
