PEABODY — Maria Santos left school the day after she turned 16 and never believed she would return.
After 37 years, she graduated on Friday from a home health aide class offered through North Shore Community Action Programs HomeCare program.
Santos is one of 13 personal-care homemakers, who work with the elderly in their homes, to complete the 16-week course taught by Grace Martins of Martins Training Center.
"I never tried anything until now," said Santos, 53. "I'm very happy they gave me a chance."
Her 75 hours of training will help her receive Red Cross certification as a home health aide, which gives her a pay raise and allows her more opportunities to advance. The class also boosted her confidence.
"If I want to do something else, I can do it," said Santos, who earned 90 percent on her final exam.
Santos left her native Portugal, the Azorean island of Graciosa, at age 14 and spent only one year in public school. At 16, she started working at a Salem shoe company, a common choice for her peers at the time.
By 20, she was married, had her first child at 25 and eventually started her own home day care business. But after 25 years, Santos knew she needed a change. The 12-hour workdays and the physical demands were taking their toll.
"I couldn't stay home," she said. "This is much easier for me."
With the encouragement of Elizabeth Chavez, director of NSCAPS' HomeCare program, and others at the agency, Santos enrolled.
"I think more than anything this built the confidence of the (women) who didn't think they could do it," Chavez said.
NSCAP Executive Director Beth Hogan said the training helps students get more skills and better pay and helps her agency get and retain better employees.
Some of the students were native Spanish and Portuguese speakers, communities where the HomeCare program is increasingly placing aides.
"That's an important part of our mission," Hogan said.
The course — and another that starts in January — are funded by a state grant.
"These are examples of the kinds of opportunities we should create for our work force, particularly people in entry-level jobs," Hogan said.
Martins said the class helped students realize they could succeed and become home health aides, one step up from their work as personal-care homemakers. The class has also given them more in-depth understanding of anatomy, safety and personal care.
"They're all looking forward to the next step," Martins said.
Student Christine Fleury said the training gets her closer to becoming a registered nurse.
"It really lit a fire," she said.
The 32-year-old mother of four longed to go back to school but was unable to add classes on top of her work and responsibilities.
"I wanted to further my education in any way possible," she said. "I was very nervous that I wasn't going to have the study time."
Because she already worked for NSCAP's HomeCare program, they helped adjust her schedule to attend the classes three days a week. She spent a lot of late nights studying, too.
"I loved it," Fleury said. "I really, really did."
For more information about the training, call Chavez at 978-531-0767, ext. 129.
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