Completing her studies was an achievement for Tasha Brickhouse, clinical nutrition manager at AdventHealth Fish Memorial. But like many other students, Brickhouse achieved this goal with the help of student loans. Although she knew it would be difficult to take on student debt, she was determined to achieve her educational goals.

“It’s not cheap to go to school,” she says, “but I was determined to be the best version of myself. So I did, but I left school with a lot to pay off in student loans.

When she heard about the support AdventHealth was providing through its student loan repayment program, Brickhouse said she was confident help was on the way — not just for herself, but also for his colleagues. After receiving the benefit, she then encouraged three of her colleagues to take advantage of it as well.

“My colleagues and I are happy to have received this support,” she said. “We have been blessed with the student loan repayment program, which shows that AdventHealth cares about investing in the growth and financial well-being of its team members.”

Brickhouse receives a monthly student loan for her bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics and her master’s degree in human nutrition. This educational step, she says, has been a long time coming.

As she began to earn her bachelor’s degree, Brickhouse faced the challenge of juggling her studies with the demands of work and family. She eventually took a break from the classroom, but over the years and as her children approached their high school years, Brickhouse said, she knew the opportunity to achieve her educational goal had arrived.

“It was a big leap of faith to go back to school. I’ve always had a passion for nutrition, which was inspired by my mother,” she said. “I often wonder how she could have extended her life by taking care of her overall health.”

While there have been challenges to overcome along the way, Brickhouse’s journey has also been filled with opportunity. She was accepted to participate in clinical rotations at AdventHealth while still in her undergraduate program.

Soon after, and with the drive to reach new heights, Brickhouse passed his dietitian exams and accepted an offer to practice his profession at AdventHealth, later pursuing his master’s degree.

“Before working here, I used to walk past AdventHealth all the time on my way home,” she said. “I love the Christ-centered environment which is very important to me, and I am grateful to my leaders who have been flexible with my school schedules and given me opportunities to grow.”

Brickhouse believes that if people can be more intentional about how they manage their nutrition, it can go a long way in helping them heal their bodies and feel whole.

“I think nutrition is fundamental to health and an important gateway to helping people heal,” she said.

The original version of this story was published on AdventHealth news sites.