Before working in adult basic education, I had worked for many years in the financial services industry. I returned to school after my first child was born to retrain for a field that I thought would be more suitable to me -- adult education -- in some capacity.

My first experience in the ABE field was as volunteer tutor at the local public library in Taunton. After I completed my degree in adult education, I thought that at least this would be valuable experience to put on my resume. I also had performed very little community service up to that point, so was happy to be volunteering my services while gaining some experience. After about a year of tutoring various ABE/ESOL students, and coming to value the importance and need of ABE and volunteerism, I was hired to start a volunteer adult literacy program of my very own. What a creative opportunity that was!

About a year after this opportunity, I was fortunate to help start the Stoughton ABE program and ultimately became the Program Coordinator there as well. Stimulated and intrigued by the many facets of the field, I have since begun teaching ESOL in yet another ABE program (Brockton Adult Learning Center.)

So, what's kept me here in the field? First and foremost, it's the satisfaction I get from helping people (who genuinely appreciate it) with basic survival skills. Second, the creative opportunities that are available in the field keep me interested. Last, I've always felt that the opportunity to know such a diverse and high-caliber group of people is a "fringe benefit" of the job.

Nancy Sheridan coordinates the Stoughton ABE program. She can be reached at: sheridan@gis.net