Why did I End Up Pursuing Information Technology?

You may wonder, how did I end up in the field of Information Technology, especially since I graduated with a degree in Psychology? Let me tell you, it was definitely NOT an easy decision to make. During my last year of college, I had already drafted my plans of becoming a clinical psychologist. At the time, I intentionally completed the majority of my college credits early on to allow room for an internship with a hospital that I had lined up with their rehabilitation department. But when COVID hit, the hospital closed down. As a result, it made me rethink about pursuing clinical psychology. The amount of debt and years of schooling to become a clinical psychologist, just wasn't appealing. Then, I decided to try pivoting into school psychology. I started working as as cognitive clinician at a private learning center while applying for grad school. As I was simultaneously interviewing and working, I couldn't see myself happily working as a school psychologist long term.

One day, as I was driving around, I saw an ad on a bus about enrolling into a cybersecurity bootcamp. I was always intrigued with the topic of cyber security, especially since it is more relevant in the modern era, but was never confident enough to pursue the field. BUT I was just so intrigued by the topic, and desperate to make a change in my life, that I decided to do some thorough research. I looked into many blogs and websites about how to enter the field of cybersecurity, and after consulting many friends and professional references, I decided to take a leap of faith in making a full career transition.

I started off taking Coursera Google IT certifications, as those were more easy to obtain while completing them at your own pace. Then, I was fortunate enough to get a part time role at a school district within their IT department. I also started enrolling into computer information system classes at community college to further gain lab experience and conceptual knowledge. Sequentially, I started getting job offers and working various roles, and now I am a full time IT technician at the school district that gave me a foot in the door. 

Though I am now working in the field of IT, I have still yet to reach my goal of becoming a knowledgeable IT consultant. A thing about the field of IT is that it is always changing and evolving. You WILL always need to learn and obtain certifications to adapt and be aware. This may sound daunting, but if you have a growing mindset and are not afraid to fail, you can definitely make a career transition into the field of IT.

A few key takeaways from this post:

• It is never too late to make a transition.
• You must be fearless and willing to always learn, if you decide to make a career shift into IT.
• Success takes time. It is a process, so do not feel discouraged if you don't get an offer right away. It only takes one yes to get the ball rolling.
• Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone's journey in IT is unique. Therefore you are unique and valuable in your own way.
• Never stay complacent. In order to stay competitive, you must holistically be learning (certifications, classes, personal projects, job experiences, etc.)

Stay tuned for my next blog post about my journey into Information Technology! :)