(Above): Nicole at her Climb training eight years ago holding up a sign that says, “I am becoming a person who is less insecure about my past and more of an inspiration to my children.” (Below): Today, her oldest daughter is in high school. After seeing her mom earn a degree in psychology and become a social worker, she wants to be a counselor someday.

A graduate pays it forward to start a career as a social worker and help Wyoming families thrive.

What does it mean to combine your passion with your profession? For Nicole, it has involved a lot of hard work to forge a career that melds successful employment with a strong desire to help people facing hardship.

Since overcoming addiction several years ago, Nicole has wanted to find a way to work in social services or drug and alcohol counseling. Her Climb Wyoming training in 2016 was the first chapter in this journey, a critical step that she says took her from working at a grocery store where she had a tough schedule to a job placement at a law office.

“Getting that job was such a big deal for me, especially since I’d been convicted of a felony years earlier,” Nicole says. “If you have a criminal record, it can feel like a lot of doors close to employment opportunities. It was monumental that Climb helped me get past that background to work in a legal setting.”

With a job that offered great benefits and a more sustainable salary to support her family, Nicole began working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She eventually transitioned to a new position as the office manager at the Counseling Center in Gillette, where she finished her degree and learned more about the field of mental health.

“I want my clients to know that change is possible and that they don’t have to be stuck where they’re at. What defines us is who we become, not who we were.”

Now Nicole has started her next chapter as a social worker with the Wyoming Department of Family Services, conducting intake assessments and helping families access counseling, financial assistance, and housing.

“I want my clients to know that change is possible and that they don’t have to be stuck where they’re at,” says Nicole. “What defines us is who we become, not who we were, and if it wasn’t for Climb, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. It has given me the strength to keep moving forward.”