Gabrielle Worthington graduated high school with an unclear picture of exactly what her future would hold. She tried a few psychology classes at her local college in Tampa, but quickly discovered that the path was not for her. She had a dream of working in the medical field but switched around the ideas of specifically which department. She moved to Daytona not long after and sat down with Daytona Program Director, Dr. Wyatt, where she eventually decided to enroll in Keiser University’s Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology degree program.

Worthington credits her initial interest in Keiser University to Dr. Wyatt herself, who took Worthington under her wing and was able to give her a tour of the Radiology department at a local hospital on that very first day. Worthington said that something just clicked.

She began the program in January of 2017, where she completed her clinical rotations and graduated with flying colors in April of 2018. The only thing left to do was sit for her boards, an exam that would give her a license to practice, and then she could begin her career.

The boards exam gives students three chances over the span of three years to pass, and unfortunately, Worthington did not pass any of the three attempts.

“I realized that no, I cannot give up. I worked so hard,” she said. “There has to be another option. There has to be another way.”

Worthington got back in touch with Dr. Wyatt, explaining the situation and asking for help with a solution. Dr. Wyatt jumped through hoops, Worthington said, and gave her the option to sit in for a year-long audit of her previous classes. In doing so, Worthington would be able to take the board exam again at the end of the program.

Some of Worthington’s friends and family were doubtful about the audit, but she was firm in her choice of returning to Keiser University for another year.

“When you really want something, when it’s your goal or dream, you’ll do anything to get there – and that’s what I did.”

As Worthington was about to begin her next journey with Keiser University, the pandemic struck, and she was forced to wait another year to enter the program. Worthington started her audit of classes in January of 2021 and successfully completed it again by December of 2021. In January of this year, she sat down to take her board exam, and passed on the first try.

Now with her license to practice, Worthington has received multiple job offers. Many of the facilities remember Worthington and her Keiser University classmates from their exceptional work during clinical rotations. She doesn’t have a particular favorite, but instead said she is grateful for such a wide variety of options.

Worthington also said that without the help of her instructors at Keiser University Daytona, and without the help of Dr. Wyatt in particular, she would not be where she is today.

“I get emotional talking about it, but I just went through so much. It was a long journey, but I’m very thankful that I was able to push through and that I never gave up.”

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a  designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 5 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News And World Report in 2022.