By Jamie West

My name is Jamie West, and I started in SMCC’s Computer Technology program in 2012. It has taken me five years to get to where I am now. I will graduate with my Associate in Applied Science with a major in Information Technology this spring. It has been a struggle at times. However, with help from all of my instructors and encouragement from my supporters, I will graduate.

Before attending SMCC, I was intimidated by today’s technology. I grew up with Atari, then the Nintendo gaming systems. The only PC I used was an old Commodore 64. I had no idea of the differences between Macs and PCs. I couldn’t tell you what a bit or a byte was, let alone a VM.

Now, after all the classes I’ve taken, I’m hoping to get into the tech industry and make a career out of it. I can now maintain desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones. I’m pretty good at troubleshooting hardware and software issues. I know what a VM is (Virtual Machine). I can set up basic networks for SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) environments.

The lessons that I’ve learned at SMCC and the skills that I’ve acquired I can now take with me into the workforce. I know what it’s like setting up VMs and having to configure the IP addresses so they work properly via the physical machine they are running through. I also know what it’s like to work and collaborate with others as a team to solve problems. Communication is a big part of all of the above. If I didn’t ask questions or answer questions and participate in classes, I wouldn’t have maximized the potential knowledge offered.

I’d like to say that it has been a long road with some bumps along the way. Regardless of life’s challenges that I’ve had to deal with, I didn’t give up.

Whoever you are, however old you are, regardless of what challenges you have to deal with, you can achieve your goals if you put your mind to it. Don’t be afraid of the bits and bytes that come along. They’ll usually update without you noticing. Things change, technology changes, and people change.

SMCC and the Information Technology department have helped me in more ways than I have words for. Not only am I able to network professionally, but I know how to set up networks as well. I understand servers and promoting them to a domain controller. I can set permissions on clients as well as myself within the network. I know what a login script is.

When I first heard some of these terms and acronyms, I was clueless. I still can’t quite speak “geek,” but I can do the tasks required to keep my grades up and learn skills that are sought after in our present time.

Had I not faced some of my own fears, I would not be writing this. If I can do this — go back to school later than the average student — anybody can. Keep on keeping on.

Jamie West is currently a member of the Information Technology Senior Seminar course and is planning on a career in networking.