Making an Immediate Impact

Canton resident Abby Nix may have only spent one year at Cushing, but even in that short time, she left an indelible mark. 

Nix, who graduated from Canton High School and attended Canton’s post-graduate program, enrolled at Cushing last year and graduated in August. While at Cushing, she took courses on employability skills and training and took on three different jobs. She was employed by Interior Details, a Norwell-based window treatment company, tasked with sweeping and vacuuming, dusting and cleaning windows, shredding documents and more. She also worked at the Peppermint Twist Candy Shoppe in Marshfield, counting candy and packaging specialty orders, restocking shelves and greeting customers. Additionally, she worked at the Cushing Café, assisting customers, preparing drink orders, restocking supplies, cleaning tables, preparing food supplies and more. 

“She hit the ground running with vocational opportunities,” said Vinny DeSilva, Cushing’s Director of Vocational Services. “She’s a wonderful individual. We saw an immense amount of growth in the short amount of time she was here. We’re so proud of her.” 

“I enjoyed meeting new people and getting to explore more about job sites,” Nix said. “I learned what is appropriate to wear at job sites, that I need to be on time for my work shifts, and how to talk to co-workers. I am proud that through my work at Cardinal Cushing Centers and other schools I can be a leader in the classroom and at work.”

DeSilva said Nix was one of the first Cushing students to use a new platform that they are trying out, Digication, which is designed for users to create and share ePortfolios. 

“It really highlights what they’ve learned throughout the year, alongside pictures, videos and their resume,” he said. “It’s a good resource to look at during job interviews, and it can be sent as a URL as part of an application process.”

“I had a job coach helping me with that,” said Nix, who is hoping that the online resource will help her as she applies to jobs in the future. She ultimately wants to work in a preschool classroom. 

In her home community, Nix has helped out as a manager for the Canton High School girls basketball team for seven years and has competed in track and field and basketball through Special Olympics. She also enjoys dancing and used to be a dance assistant, helping young students with their dance recitals.