Olivia MacLeod is happy to tout the benefits of enrolling in adult education classes.

MacLeod, 23, of Waterville completed her program at Mid-Maine Regional Adult Community Education and on Wednesday, was prepared to graduate with her peers Thursday night at Waterville Senior High School. She was excited.

“I would definitely, wholeheartedly recommend Mid-Maine Adult Education,” she said. “The teachers, the administrators — they’re all very supportive, lovely people.”

MacLeod had been home-schooled and finished her high school-level courses in 2020 when she was 18. She was advised last year to enroll in adult education classes and take the HiSet, or high school equivalency test, which is similar to a general educational development test, or GED. Having that documentation would enable her to obtain a behavioral health professional license, go on to higher education and be eligible for certain positions.

She enrolled in classes last November and took writing, reading, social studies, math and science — all while working full time as an educational technician at a preschool in Waterville for children with mental and physical disabilities.

“I assist the lead teacher with whatever academic plan she has for the day,” MacLeod said. “It’s a lot of prekindergarten literacy. The youngest student is about 3 and the oldest, 5. I definitely love working there. It’s great watching the kids grow, and seeing their successes. My co-workers are probably some of the greatest, kindest, most supportive people I’ve met. We’re one big team.”

MacLeod grew up in Auburn and moved to Waterville about a year ago to live with her brother. She has been in her preschool job about eight months and hopes to stay there as she seeks to enroll in an early childhood education program at Kennebec Valley Community College.

She and other graduates from the adult education program are able to attend two years of a community college free of charge as part of a program Gov. Janet Mills proposed during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Hannah Bard, director of Mid-Maine Regional Adult Community Education. Bard said Wednesday that 17 of the 22 students graduating this year are looking to enroll in college and one has signed up for the U.S. Air Force. Four were ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students.

MacLeod, she said, was inducted in the National Adult Education Honor Society this year.

“She really displayed characteristics we are looking for in adult ed students,” Bard said. “It’s not academic-based. It’s based on work ethic and character skills.”

Bard said educators at Mid-Maine tell their students they are going to work with them, no matter what, and try to make the educational experience meaningful for them. They also discuss career choices and help students set goals.

Typically, 30 to 35 students of all ages graduate from the program each year but this year, there are 22 and most are younger than 30, according to Bard.

“I’m excited for what they are going to do,” she said.

The program serves students from Waterville, Belgrade, China, Sidney, Oakland and Rome. Many have faced adversity and had to overcome challenges in their lives, according to Bard.

MacLeod said she was nervous about enrolling in adult ed, but after a time, she settled in and found her comfort zone.

“They were very flexible, so I was able to do a lot of work at home,” she said.

She praised teacher Nancy Hebert, whom she said helped her tremendously, particularly with writing.

MacLeod encourages those who are unsure or nervous about enrolling in the adult education program to just go for it.

“Facing your fears is hard,” she said, “but it’s definitely worth it.”

Amy Calder has been a Morning Sentinel reporter 37 years. Her columns appear here Sundays. She is the author of the book, “Comfort is an Old Barn,” a collection of her curated columns, published in 2023 by Islandport Press. She may be reached at [email protected]. For previous Reporting Aside columns, go to centralmaine.com.