(upbeat music)
- [Dov] I was always curious
about how things work.
I loved the challenge
of which parts did what.
I loved the idea that I
could pull something apart
and put it back together
and hope it worked.
- [Brianna] I actually
was not interested in IT.
Then I went to Capital
IDEA'S CareerUp
and they offered nursing,
automotive and IT.
So it's kinda like
a leap of faith.
- [Anna] I really enjoy
detective stories.
I really enjoy searching.
I guess, lots of
mental searching,
like thinking about
what I want to do.
I decided that I want to do
my Masters in Cybersecurity.
So when I came to ACC,
I had no background
in computer programming or
database administration.
- [Linda] We just got approved
for our Bachelors
of Applied Science
in Software Development.
That's the number
one job in Austin.
To be able to put
somebody in the IT field--
the other area is
programming, web development,
network support--
these are some of the areas
that are very, very
popular here in Austin.
- [Catherine] We have
a work-study program
with Austin Community College.
ACC students are remarkable.
The students that come
into this program,
they are resilient,
they are determined.
They have a strong sense of
understanding of our residents
who are trying to
aspire to do things
that they're not doing today.
ACC interns that we get will
come into the program saying,
"I have no experience.
I've just spent twenty
years managing a kitchen
of forty people."
And we'll tell them that
actually you do have experience.
You have experience
with inventory,
you understand a process,
you understand quality control,
and you know how
to manage folks.
- [Brianna] IT was something
that I thought was
gonna be difficult.
Like, ACC was so
hands-on teaching
that I was able to
understand that process.
- [Linda] You're gonna actually,
you know, work with
the equipment itself
and it's not simulated, although
simulation's very popular.
You're gonna work
with the equipment.
You're gonna work with faculty
who been in the industry
for years and years and
years, and then they stay
on the cutting edge themselves.
- [Dov] Everyone needs IT.
There isn't a company out there
that doesn't have some
sort of IT back-end
and some sort of IT support.
It's unbelievable, the
breadth and width of companies
that are gonna need the
IT backing of someone.
- [Anna] If the person
has enough perseverance
and thirst for knowledge
and understands that
there're gonna be challenges,
so the right person is the
one who's not gonna give up.
- [Brianna] If you're
a person like me
who grew up around computers,
you probably know more
than what you think,
and to just go for it.
