What made you decide to transition into tech and into Linux?
I’ve always been interested in technology. Back when I was a teacher, I was the one other teachers would go to when they had computer issues, whether it was getting something to print or troubleshooting a problem.
But there were many reasons I made the switch. Tech is something I can get lost in. I can go into my office, dive into projects and labs, and feel that same rush I used to get from playing basketball.
This is actually my third career. I was a professional basketball player before I became a teacher. But with tech, just like with basketball, I found something I could do for hours without it feeling like work. It’s enjoyable. I love that there’s always more to learn, and the field is broad. You can grow, pivot, and find your path.
That opportunity to keep evolving in the field is what really pulled me in.
You’re in the CrowdStrike cohort, and you’ve already really made the big leap, right?
Yed, I got ahead of schedule a little bit.
How do you feel your time with Yellow Tail Tech contributed to your success?
There are three key areas that really helped me land a role as a Technical Support Engineer.
The first was networking. I fully utilized LinkedIn, staying active, building my network throughout the program, and reaching out to people I already knew, like former teammates and co-workers. I made it a point to put my story out there, share what I was working toward, and stay open to feedback. I wasn’t directly asking for jobs. I was asking for advice on how to become more valuable and a stronger candidate. Yellow Tail Tech emphasizes that kind of networking. They teach you to be proactive about your career, and that mindset made a big difference.
The second area was developing my soft skills. My background in sports and education already gave me a strong foundation in communication and teamwork, but Yellow Tail Tech really honed those skills. My instructors focused on teaching us how to ask the right questions, how to sound confident when doing so, and how to clearly communicate technical concepts.
That helped me pivot my interpersonal strengths into the IT world, because asking good questions is a skill. In a fast-paced tech environment, you want to be efficient, precise, and respectful of people’s time. Yellow Tail Tech helped me sharpen that.
And the third was the technical skills. It was a privilege to learn from instructors who are current industry professionals, working at companies I admire. Everything we were taught followed industry best practices. Sure, I could’ve tried to learn these things on my own, but it would’ve taken longer. I probably would’ve gotten sidetracked by irrelevant content or wasted time on fluff.
Yellow Tail Tech was efficient and surgical with what they taught. The structure of the Lnx program, especially how it mirrors how things are done in real enterprise environments, was incredibly valuable. Coming from a public school background and transitioning into a corporate setting as a Technical Support Engineer, that kind of preparation made all the difference.
Those three areas: networking, soft skills, and technical skills, that’s what really helped me succeed.
In your networking, what do you think was most effective about your approach?
I think the biggest factor was consistency.
I got ghosted a lot by different people. I’d have a connection, try to reach out to someone for me, and I wouldn’t hear back. A lot of people might take that as a sign to slow down or feel discouraged, but for me, I just told myself, “Maybe that person’s busy, or it wasn’t the right time.” Either way, that’s not going to stop me. The journey continues.
If you set a goal, like building 100 LinkedIn connections a week, stick to that plan. Even if you fall short one week, keep going. If your goal is to reach out to five recruiters a day and you don’t hear back from any of them, you still keep reaching out. That consistency adds up.
I also made sure to come from a place of value. Instead of approaching people with, “Can you give me a job?” my mindset was, “What can I do? How can I improve?” I focused on actionable steps I could take on my end. And when people did respond, I followed up, showed gratitude, and tried to build meaningful, long-term connections.
It was that mix of consistency, humility, and using my full network that really helped. I had previous work experience, and I didn’t let that go to waste. Some people might think being older or making a career switch is a disadvantage, but I saw it as a strength. This is my third career, and that meant I already had a network. Maybe my old coworkers didn’t work in IT, but chances are they knew someone who did.
I reached out to everyone I could, and I’m glad I did. I ended up connecting with an incredible mentor who’s taught me so much. That, combined with the mentorship and structure from Yellow Tail Tech, gave me a strong support system. It really took a village, and I’m grateful for it.
What was the most challenging part about your classes?
I’d say the most challenging part of the journey was the sacrifice.
I’m a dad. I’m a husband. And during this time, I had also gone back to school. I haven’t finished my degree yet—I still have about a quarter or a semester left. On top of that, I was enrolled in this intensive program. And I was working a full-time job.
That was the pie, divided into all those pieces.
And I’m a very hands-on dad. I always tell people: I’m not a part-time dad or a part-time husband. I’m a full-time husband and a full-time father. Those roles mean a lot to me.
Going through this experience required real sacrifice. That was probably the hardest part.
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