(RED OAK, Texas) – Luis Rivera said he has been fascinated with technology ever since his father brought home the family’s first iPad.
Today, he is channeling that passion at Texas State Technical College by studying Computer Networking and Systems Administration (CNSA) and joining the first cohort of the MEI (Mechanical, Electrical and Information) Technology Data Center Pathway program.
“I feel like the most rewarding part is actually working with the things I’ve been taught about previously, and the opportunities I have been given and I’ll use in the real world,” Rivera said.
Rivera, of Red Oak, said he feels TSTC is giving him a glimpse into adulthood, but assistance is always around when he needs it. His instructors encouraged open communication, which taught Rivera to never be afraid to ask for help.
“Like a family, they provide you with the best, they guide you toward what you can do, and from there they set up a foundation for what you need in the future,” he said. “I feel like that’s what TSTC offers.”
Kurtis Hall is one of Rivera’s CNSA instructors at TSTC’s North Texas campus.
“Luis is young and hungry,” Hall said. “I have no doubt that he will succeed and excel in whatever position he places himself in. He consistently seeks out answers and does not hesitate to ask questions, oftentimes finding solutions for problems we did not know about.”
Rivera said he enrolled in the MEI program to explore the growing field of data centers and for more career opportunities. He said he has enjoyed the hands-on work, and the real-world experience the program provides.
“It definitely makes me feel good that I’m (one of) the very first to experience such a thing,” Rivera said.
Rivera plans to earn his certificate of completion from TSTC’s MEI program this November and his associate degree in CNSA in December.
Computer Networking and Systems Administration is available at TSTC’s Abilene, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses, as well as online. Students can pursue an associate degree, certificates of completion in IT Support Tier 1 and IT Support Tier II, and an advanced technical certificate in Cloud Computing.
For more information on the MEI Technology Data Center Pathway program, go to tstc.edu/datacenters.
For more information, go to tstc.edu.