EleanorThibodeau

Sidney Sledge ’21

Sidney Sledge ’21 has chosen to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a firefighter. Sledge has committed herself to a very tough career and has faced many challenges along the way. “In the fire academy, I was the only girl so I compared my strength to all the guys, which wasn’t fair to myself. Men are naturally stronger, so although I was giving it my all, there were times I felt like I was coming up short,” Sledge said. Though at times she may have felt less strong or discouraged, she did not give up and even realized that others do believe in her. “The guys in my class and the guys at my station are encouraging and, sometimes, believe in me more than I believe in myself. As long as the job gets done correctly, they don’t care who does it or how it gets done,” Sledge said. 

Marian’s focus on “confident, independent thinking leaders” has truly set Sledge up for success. “Throughout my time at Marian, I became more and more confident in my words and actions…Confidence is huge in any part of life, but I think especially for women in a male-dominated field,” Sledge said. Her unique experience at Marian gave Sledge a chance to thrive in an opposite environment, the only girl in her fire academy class. 

Along the way Sledge has grown to understand what it takes to be a Woman in a male-dominated field. “Don’t be afraid of being the only woman and don’t be afraid of failure, but embrace it as a learning opportunity,” Sledge said. Though       she may have gone through some obstacles to get to where she is, Sledge loves her job and enjoys the people she works with. She has also learned to embrace being a firewoman.

Kristin Maly-Valdez ’88

Kristin Maly-Valdez ’88 is the owner of a family construction company. She took over the business from her father. After working in a male-dominated field Maly-Valdez has noticed the different strengths between men and women, “Women in my organization often demonstrate strong multitasking abilities and a high level of attention to detail. Men, on the other hand, frequently exhibit strong technical skills, both in computer-based tasks and in fieldwork,” Valdez said. 

Marian has specific activities and standards to help their students succeed later in life. Some people look at Field Day and think it is all silly fun and games, but this tradition teaches so much more than fun. “One of the most valuable experiences at Marian was participating in Field Days. Organizing those events required teamwork, communication, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities at once,” Valdez said. She believes that this has helped her form a foundation for collaborative skills and even more.

Building confidence in any career is challenging, especially when starting out. “I believe it is important to be the most informed person in the room when it comes to the products and services we provide,” Valdez said. She has had over 20 years of experience in the construction industry and has learned this is an effective way to be confident in her work. Valdez is a Marian alum who has taken her talents and skills and made them flourish within her career. Not only did Marian help grow the skills she already had, but it gave her new ones as well.