It’s not often that one finds their perfect career on the first try. This was true for Darrell Land, a student in the Radiologic Technology program at Middle Georgia Technical College (MGTC) in Warner Robins.

After working in the retail industry for a large part of his career, Land made the unusual leap to change careers in midstream. However, his change required much more than just finding another job. It required a commitment and dedication to achieving his goals, which will ultimately lead him to a career he is passionate about.

“While working in the retail industry, I always knew I wanted to do more,” said Land. “It had to be in a field where I could still help people, because that is what I enjoyed most about retail.”

While Land was working in retail, the economy began to worsen and companies were tightening belts to make ends meet and maintain profits.

“As the economy got worse, my job became less about helping people and more about maintaining profits,” he said. “I didn’t like it and I knew I needed a change.”

Land found the change he needed at Middle Georgia Technical College. After becoming interested in the healthcare field over a decade ago, he made the choice to enroll in classes at MGTC in summer quarter 2008.

“In 1997, my grandfather was dying of cancer and I spent a great deal of time with him in the hospital,” Land said. “I admired the nursing staff and the compassion they showed, not only for my grandfather, but also for the family who was mourning also.”

Over the next ten years, Land was not able to find the right time to make his move into the healthcare field. Life happened and Land found himself moving toward a total career change as a husband and father.

“I thought it would never happen,” he said. “Finally, my wife said ‘we will do what we need to do as a family—you do what you need to do for the future’ and with that she provided the motivation I needed to pursue my goal of working in the healthcare industry.”

Land’s wife, Tracy, also works in the healthcare industry as a nurse.

“She loves her job and for the right reasons,” he said. “She loves helping people in need. I’ve loved her passion for nursing since the day we met and she is the reason I made the leap into this new career.”

Land is what most would consider a non-traditional student. At 35, he is older than the average college student and he has personal responsibilities including a wife and three young children, ages 9, 2, and 1. Once he decided on his path, he charged full speed ahead and is now a senior in the Radiology Technology program at Middle Georgia Technical College.

The Rad Tech program is a two year associate degree program. Admission into the program is competitive, which means that students must focus on core courses to guarantee a quality grade point average to be eligible to apply for the program. In addition, students must take an entrance exam.

“When I first started taking classes at MGTC, I knew there was no back-up plan—I had to get into this program,” said Land. “It’s probably not the wisest thing to charge ahead with no safety net, but it was something that needed to be done.”

As a senior Rad Tech student, he spends a majority of his time in clinical rotations, gaining hands-on experience in his field and one day a week in classes at the Warner Robins campus. Because of the demands of the program, it proves difficult to find time for a job and other activities. However, Land manages to work part-time in computer sales and repair to supplement his family’s income.

“Between clinical, classes, my family, and my part-time job, I am on the go seven days a week,” Land said. “I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, but it’s just not in my work ethic not to provide some source of income for my family and help out as much as I can. I juggle being a father, working, and school on a daily basis.”

Senobia Garrett is the Clinical Coordinator for the Radiology Technology program at MGTC and is quick to point out the dedication and passion she sees in Land.

“As senior students, I’ve taken the opportunity to ask them to write a paper stating their position and goals they have set associated with the program,” Garrett said. “Although each student spoke to their own personal challenges, I felt that Darrell’s paper expressed the true essence of what adult education is all about. It is about challenges, change, and rewards. It creates challenges for the instructors of our program and the personnel at our clinical sites to ensure that we help our students to achieve their goals. In the end, it makes us all better.”

Land is scheduled to graduate in June 2010 and plans to pursue a career in the Radiologic Technology field, hopefully, he says, in a hospital environment.

“My goal for the last few quarters of my program to build on what I have already learned and learn the fine details of Radiology to prepare for passing the registry exam,” said Land. “I am going to work very hard in my spare time studying and learning positioning details as I take each exam. I have to pass this class and I have to get registered. My family is depending on it and I am counting on it.”

Land is not lighthearted about his passion and commitment to being successful. He stated that he does not go into things he feels he can’t finish and he does not give up on things once he has started.

“I have given up in the past and I have always regretted it. I will not do it his time. I know that I can’t be perfect, but I never want a lack of knowledge or effort to be my reason for failure. I will improve everything that I can about clinical experience, and won’t stop until I am confident that I can say ‘I’m ready to become a registered tech.”

For more information about the Radiology Technology program or any of the programs and services offered at Middle Georgia Technical College, call 478.988.6800 or log on to www.midddleGAtech.edu.