Tell us a bit about your background and what challenges you faced before joining the program.
I was a graduate from Boise State and was working on my master’s at UMBC, but applying for jobs was my biggest challenge because everyone was asking me for experience. If I had any certs.
I did not have any certs at the time, and I was looking for a pathway to get my foot in the door, trying to find guidance on where I’m going to go next before I finish my master’s. And then I found out about the program and I applied, and that’s how I got in.
What were some of the first changes you experienced after joining the program?
One of the first things that I’ve experienced is having more time for my family. And second was finding the freedom and guidance through being able to find something that I’m capable of doing for work. And third, the financial side of things—because, of course, before joining this, I couldn’t find a job, finding a job now makes things easier.
Were you concerned about the cost of the program at first?
First coming in, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for the class. But talking and having a quick interview with Juvie, I found out that they had that financing option, and I benefited from that a lot. I had to do my due diligence to make sure I passed the class because I was doing the financial part that way. Not knowing if I would have been able to pay it, that helped because they had the option.
How would you describe your overall experience with the program?
This is a life-changing course, especially if you’re trying to get into the IT field. It really, truly changed my life, especially for every job that I was going to, they were asking me for experience and certification. By coming and doing this, I enjoyed the way they have the class dissected for me to not only understand it for class, but also to take what I learned and take it to work.
And even if it weren’t for the IT world, the way they set this up even broadened my mind for how to study for courses in the future. I enjoyed every bit of experience with this class.
What was the interaction like with other students and instructors?
The interaction with student instructors was very, I would say, promoted. It’s not like you are normally used to going to school because in class, a lot of times, you don’t have that one-on-one with the professor. But we had that here. And with the students, it wasn’t a competition, we tried to help each other throughout the class.
We really tried to vouch for the “no one left behind” in this class because we wanted everyone to pass this course, not just for us, but for the teacher. Because we knew what we were getting into. We knew that we paid money for this class and we had to get something out of it, and we knew we wanted to make it all to the end with the same group. We didn’t want anyone to drop.
What made you confident this was the right path for you?
After my first interview with the program instructor and the program director, I knew this was the only way I wanted to go. There were a lot of other options, but just knowing that everything that we use in life, just put a bit of Linux in it and being introduced to it, I knew I didn’t want anything else but to start here.
How has your life changed since completing the program?
Having job security is always a plus, knowing that I have a job now, and I’m not looking to look for a job right away. I have people constantly contacting me for jobs almost every week, if not every day, asking me for the next job. And you get to the point where instead of them interviewing you, you’re chasing the best option for yourself. It changed my life, and I have time with my family now, less stress.
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