In the days leading up to graduation, Huston-Tillotson University will profile members of the Class of 2017. We hope you enjoy their stories!
Graduate Mary Holt
Holt
Mary Holt and Hatton Sumners Board Member Scott Higginbotham
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She didn’t know it at that time, but Mary Holt had already visited the institution that would eventually grant her Bachelor of Arts degree less than seven years later.
“I came to a worship service at the King- Seabrook Chapel with my church,” Holt said. “I thought it was a huge church campus; I had missed the Huston-Tillotson University sign at the entrance.”
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Holt moved to Killeen, Texas, on Valentine’s Day of 2009 – it was a fitting time for a new take on life and love, as Holt headed south to “find a purpose”.
“I was just looking for a job and some different surroundings, but I found my whole life,” she said. “The surroundings were slower than what I was used to but the relaxed way of life gave me the much-needed space and time to heal from the homelessness, heartbreak, and the uncertainty that I endured in Michigan because of the economic downturn.”
Fast-forward two years: her mother had moved from Detroit to Texas and back again, her sister had given birth to a baby boy, and she had found the love of her life, Brent.
Life was moving fast and Holt and her husband, Brent had already welcomed their first child, Za’Riyah, into their lives, but a second child (named Heavenly) was on the way when their family was plagued by life’s simple annoyances, car troubles with no ability to ease up on commitments. Holt’s car troubles led her to miss the classes she was already enrolled in for a full week. Her then advisor told her that even though she had completed all of her assignments, she needed to find a school closer to her on a bus line. Enter Huston-Tillotson’s Adult Degree Program (ADP), an accredited option for Holt that she said was “fiscally affordable” with classes that “easily fit into” her schedule.
“Huston-Tillotson taught me how to be a truly reflective, effective, and positive leader. I’m HT’s Adult Degree Program’s biggest fan because it has taught me to be intentional in my community service, be alert and engaged in civic engagement, community building, and social justice,” she said.
At Huston-Tillotson, Holt attributes much of her success in the ADP program to her mentor, Ms. Kathy Smith.
“Her (Smith’s) professionalism and leadership has helped me to excel and has pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits to discover my inner strength and confidence,” Holt said. “She never let me miss out on an opportunity, even when I was unsure of anything I was doing academically or dealing with in my life. After talking with her, I’d have a game plan on how to solve my problems. Kathy Smith is a game changing professor.”
In the next five years, Holt says she sees herself as an accomplished educator/entrepreneur of homeschool cohesion centers and as a published author.
Mary Holt will graduate on Saturday, May 6, 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. You can follow her future steps on Twitter at @GospelLady14.
Congratulations, Mary!
http://htu.edu/
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 at 11:37AM
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