Pay It Forward Program Allowed Asia to Pursue Radiography
Asia
NJ Pay it Forward Program participant
NJ Pay it Forward Program participant
![A person in blue medical scrubs and a cap is smiling for a selfie while standing beside a hospital exam table in a clinical setting.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_5977-750x1000.jpeg")
Zero-Interest Loan Helped MacKenzie Pivot to a Radiography Career
Workforce & Education Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility
When MacKenzie moved to New Jersey, he found himself at a crossroads. After years working in public relations and legal roles, MacKenzie realized his true calling was in health care. One Friday, after wrapping up a Zoom call with clients, MacKenzie made a bold decision: he quit his job and enrolled in Hudson County Community College’s Radiography Program.
But the transition wasn’t easy. “I had a full-time career and still have rent to pay and all those things,” MacKenzie explained. “Stopping all of my income and going to school full time to obtain this degree and certification—without the Pay It Forward loan, this road would just be so difficult. It’s like a godsend for me.”
Through the NJ Pay It Forward Program, MacKenzie received a zero-interest loan that covered tuition and living expenses, plus emergency aid for transportation and utilities. For MacKenzie, transportation was a major challenge. “We have to go to 15 different clinical sites, and that can be costly,” MacKenzie shared. “I’ve taken advantage of the emergency aid fund for transportation. Sometimes I have to take a train, a bus, another train, and a light rail just to get to clinicals. The living stipend and emergency aid really help me keep up with those costs, and also make sure my utilities and internet stay on.”
MacKenzie expects to earn between $56 and $71 an hour once he lands a job, with some companies offering up to $116,000 a year.
Looking ahead, MacKenzie is excited to join a community of radiography professionals and help others find their path.
Once MacKenzie graduates and secures a good job, his repayments will go directly toward supporting the next cohort of learners. “Once I get my job, I know that the repayment I’m making isn’t going into someone’s bank account—it’s going to fund another person with the same career path or goals. That’s really awesome.”