At age 14, Marissa was diagnosed with a left temporal glioblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor. While still in high school, she underwent chemotherapy and radiation. Although successful in treating the brain tumor, she now copes with long-term side effects from these treatments, including poor memory, difficulty processing information, lack of motivation, and fatigue.

Once she reached grade 12, Marissa and her mother began thinking seriously about her next steps after high school. They researched supports that could be helpful during this period of great transition and learned about Neil Squire.

Marissa first connected with the Solutions team, who made suggestions on assistive technology and strategies that could help address the cognitive issues that were impacting her academic performance.

She also had her own goals — she wanted to find summer employment, become more independent, manage her own bank account, and just have “something [she] could do that meant something.”

Marissa was connected to the Working Together program, through which she “definitely achieved all those goals.”

Marissa secured summer employment with a wage subsidy at Hammond River Angling Association (new window). She worked as a camp counselor, supervising children at their nature camp. She oversaw activities such as swimming, fishing, crafts, and more. She was also responsible for signing out the campers at the end of the day and keeping the camp clean and sanitary per COVID guidelines.

Through this experience, Marissa says that she feels more confident in what she can and cannot do, more responsible, and better able to support herself. Marissa is now enrolled at the University of New Brunswick (new window) Saint John, where she is taking classes in arts and biology. Although she is not completely sure where her future career might take her, she is excited to be exploring her interests with newfound confidence and independence.