Graduate thought she would just take a couple classes – but stayed at Gateway and discovered her future

Like many high-schoolers, Dajanae Williams was unsure what her future held.

She knew she wanted to go to college, but didn’t know where to go or what to study. Dajanae’s initial move to answer that question didn’t help much, she says – she applied to 16 colleges and was accepted at all of them. But now, how would she decide where to go?

Dajanae chose to take a small step first and enroll at her local college, take a few classes and decide from there. Little did she know that she would take more than just a few classes, and that college, Gateway Technical College, would change her life.

“I came across Gateway Technical College,” she says. “I knew it was more affordable than other colleges and I wanted to be debt free, or to only have a small amount of loans, by the time I graduated.

“I knew a lot of people who were going to Gateway. I also knew Gateway had a variety of programs on several different campus locations, so I decided to enroll.”

Dajanae never left Gateway, going on to earn her Business Management associate degree and being selected as the college’s District Ambassador, where she’s considered the voice and representative of the entire student body to the college and area communities.

“It’s crazy to think that your mindset can change so quickly,” she says. “I thought I would go to Gateway and just get a few courses out of the way. But that was wrong. I stayed and realized my whole future because of Gateway.

“I am here, at this point. I didn’t think I would ever say that, and it’s because of Gateway that I have the skills and resources to pursue my passions, even though they seemed unrealistic a few years ago.”

Dajanae says the part about Gateway she enjoyed the most was its ability to provide a path for students to grow and reach their full potential.

“I liked the room I had for growth,” says Dajanae. “There are so many opportunities at Gateway, and I was able to connect with leaders at the college who were so encouraging to me. I don’t always see that with my friends who go to other colleges.”

Dajanae also said she believes Gateway prepared her well for a career in business.

“Gateway is very hands-on,” she says. “You may have some lecture-based learning, but they want to see you in action. I’ve even been able to create my own business plan during a class.”

Gateway gave Dajanae the skills to enter her career at an area municipality, but her Gateway credits will also help her to secure her four-year degree. She says most of the credits she earned at Gateway will apply toward her earning a Business degree at UW-Milwaukee.

“I am on time to earn my four-year degree in two more years,” she says. “The transfer agreements help make my costs a lot cheaper, too. That’s for sure.”

“I think people have a vision that a two-year college is just there to take some courses and move on, and they may envision that there’s not much room for growth. That’s not true. I am so much further along than I ever thought I would be. I have hope and determination now because of Gateway.”