TSTC student uses her education to advance in workplace

(MARSHALL, Texas) – Natasha Davis had a stable job at the company where she enjoys working, but she knew she needed to learn more.

She chose to attend Texas State Technical College’s Marshall campus to further her education and earn increased responsibilities at her employer, Conterra Networks in Longview. She continued to work full time while attending classes.

Davis is a candidate for graduation for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration at TSTC. She completes her studies this month.

“As I took my classes at TSTC, it was explained to me how the things I have been privy to came to be and how it works,” she said. “It is exciting to relate the information I was learning to what I already knew.”

Amy Hertel, an instructor in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program, taught Davis in some of her classes.

“It is not enough for her to just complete assignments; she wants to understand how everything works, take notes, take time to study and push herself,” Hertel said.

Davis was recently promoted from working in customer service to assisting customers in the company’s 24-hour network operations center. The work involves giving troubleshooting assistance for internet, ethernet and phone services.

“I have already talked to my new boss about what kind of things I can do to progress in my career and what kind of things that come in hand in the position I am in,” she said. “This is really just a starting point.”

Davis said she knows it can be a rarity for someone seeking telecommunications assistance to hear a woman giving guidance.

“It is hilarious to hear their reactions,” she said. “They are not trying to be biased, but they are thrown off.”

Davis said her career advice for other women is to stand out in the workplace, be dependable and make connections.

“You want to build relationships with everybody so they feel a sense of community,” she said. “They feel like they are a part of something bigger when they talk to you.”

Due to the pandemic, TSTC’s Marshall campus is having a virtual graduation celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, on the TSTC in Marshall Facebook page.

Graduates can pick up their “Grad Swag” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at the campus’ Administration Building.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.