Information Technology Graduate
How did you hear about Summit?
I first heard about Summit from a coworker who had a sibling graduate from the Construction program. I wasn’t interested in any of the programs until I saw an ad on Facebook for the new IT program, which was when I decided to apply.
What is the most important skill you learned?
I learned to persevere. During my time at Summit, I was both a full-time worker and a full-time dad with two kids, both under two years. This skill has carried over to my job with Atomic Data because IT is a broad field with many challenges.
What was your life like before attending Summit?
Prior to Summit, I worked as a Security Manager. I wouldn’t say it was my ideal career path but rather something I started doing to make ends meet.
What is your career goal?
My long-term goal is to become an Engineer. At the moment, I don’t know in what field (i.e. Network, Software, On-Site).
How did your experience at Summit change you?
It’s completely changed my life. It opened opportunities that I would’ve never had otherwise. As much as I like or was interested in IT, I wouldn’t have done anything about it because I did not have the money or time to get a 4-year degree.
What did you like most about attending Summit?
I liked that I could be around others who had the same interest and were at about the same skill level as me. It helped to know that I wasn’t alone.
What advice do you have for those interested in Summit Academy?
Set a goal, take baby steps, and stick with it. It WILL get better. Adopt a mindset that’s willing to learn and be molded. Summit changed my life. Whenever I come across someone who I think may need a life-changing event, I tell them about Summit and my story.
How long have you been at Atomic Data?
I’ve been with Atomic for over two years now. I started on the NOC and three months later changed to Embedded Technician. The difference between the two is like night and day. On NOC, I worked closely with a team of 7-10 others and we would monitor alerts and handle war rooms. As an Embedded Tech, I go on-site to the client and support them by fixing computer issues, computer setups and anything related to a user and their computer.
