Training

DECISIONS

What did you choose?

Through the years and for many reasons,  I chose professional training instead pursuing a college degree. I am sure that I am not the only one and that there's plenty of people that haven’t gotten their degree. I am one of them with a short story to tell so here we go...

When I was younger right out of high school, I went to work performing data-entry and remained in that job at the same company for five years. I learned about mainframe computers and data processing and had ambitions to move forward. Eventually, I became an DBMS CA-IDMS: IDD-Data-Dictionary Administrator working with DBA's creating their element (meta) data required to run mainframe programs - lucky me and life was good! However, after a while it became obvious that I could not move forward because I did not have a degree.

Thinking about my education was challenging because I needed an immediate option and decided on professional training. Because of the dawn of a new era introducing the World Wide Web, now called the Internet, I decided to switch my interests from mainframe systems to personal computers and I needed training. I wasn't 19 years old having the luxury of time to become a full time college student.

I found a company called Wave Technologies LLC (1995) that offered a variety of programs. I registered for Help Desk Support, Computer Repair and Network Essentials, passing the exams with flying colors! I became an official personal computer expert within a year's time and, certified by CompTIA® as an A+ and Network+ Technician.

Back then colleges didn't have certification training, their computer science curriculum focused on programming so professional training for me was the right choice.  It gave me the jump start needed to enter into a new computer field - Information Technology. I became a certified computer professional and I hit the ground-running working in IT.

However today, and now that I am older and a bit wiser, I realize that by not attending college and not having a degree, it hindered many advancement opportunities, unfortunately. I was able to maintain but not able as many would by having a degree. We all make mistakes in life but by taking the corrective action, you can change your outcome and make your dream come true!

Do you agree that it is ALL about that degree?

I'd like to hear your answers - let's blog!

Yours truly,

IT Dee aka
Designer Dee