At 20 years old, Dajah Holt decided to leave home in Georgia to pursue an education at Midwestern State University.

Holt, a first-generation college student, takes the educational step of pursuing her goals seriously. She said a large part of what encouraged her to pursue a degree was not wanting to live paycheck-to-paycheck. Holt seeks the stability and agency over her future that a degree offers.  

“I always planned to go to school because I wanted to have a career,” Holt said on her second day at MSU Texas.

Holt chose MSU because of its Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology program. She said once she was accepted, she knew this was where she wanted to be. She’s had relatives who worked in the medical field and, through that exposure, developed an interest in it. MSU has offered this program for several decades, reflecting its commitment to the field, and that appealed to Holt. 

Holt explained that she wants to focus on X-rays for now, but is considering shifting her path to learn about modalities as a whole. Her goal is to work in the medical field, but she wants to gain more experience through classes before she makes a more precise plan. 

In the meantime, she plans to dig into her classes and enjoy the college experience. She is already aware of the resources campus has to offer and intends to utilize the tutoring and counseling center, especially. She believes that being prepared and finding balance between obligations and rest is the key to success in school. She plans to achieve this by completing assignments as soon as they’re assigned, making a weekly schedule, studying before and after classes, and resting in her downtime to avoid burnout.  

She said there are a few parts of the college experience that she is particularly excited about, and a few things she’s nervous about – despite her preparation. She's very excited for her Ethical and Legal Issues in Medical Imaging class. It's a large class, but she’s interested in the subject and looks forward to group-work opportunities.   

“I’m a little nervous about sorority life – I wanna do it, but I’m nervous,” Holt said. “I look forward to meeting new people and getting to network.”  

Holt noted that, though it’s early in the semester, there are already so many things about MSU that she appreciates. These include knowledgeable and encouraging staff, student engagement opportunities, wellness resources, and the organization of the school in terms of the campus and the learning systems. She is eager to begin the rest of her classes and learn more about the field she’s passionate about.