Holloway juggled job, college to achieve her dreams

Thinking that college would never be an option for her, Jennifer Holloway worked a couple different minimum wage jobs after high school before becoming a secretary in the business department at Pratt Community College.

Once she started working at the college, many of the faculty and staff encouraged Holloway to start working towards a degree.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” she said.

Holloway had been out of high school for four years and had two children when she started working at the college and decided to pursue a business degree at Pratt Community College.

She chose to get a degree in business because she enjoyed taking photos and wanted to start her own business shooting photography. Once she got into the degree she took an accounting class and decided that was her real calling.

“Accounting just seemed to click with me,” she said. “I had never taken accounting in high school, and when I took that class I really enjoyed it.”

Holloway discussed it with the faculty at the college and saw what job options she had if she were to go into accounting.

“I think the most important thing for students getting ready to go to college to do is look and see what jobs are available in the field they want to go into,” she said.

Once she saw the jobs available in accounting she decided that was what she wanted to major in.

While working on her degree, Holloway continued to work as a secretary at the college and said that even though it was tough, she is glad she stuck with it.

“Going to Pratt was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “The teachers really cared about the students and made sure that they understood what they were teaching. They would spend time and work with you if you didn’t understand it.”

After finishing her degree at PCC, Holloway went on to Wichita State University where she received a degree in business.

“When I went to WSU I was happy that I received such a strong foundation from Pratt,” she said.

Holloway said she would advise anyone thinking about going back to school to do it.

“From what I was making as a secretary to what I am now, it’s worth it,” she said. “Going back was tough. There were a lot of nights I didn’t sleep because I had to stay up and study, but I’m glad I did it to give my family the life I wanted them to have.”

Holloway is now the Financial Analyst at Koch Industries and the Lead Recruiter for them at WSU.