Plenty of people spend years in the wrong job telling themselves things will eventually change. MyComputerCareer’s June graduating class of 1,578 decided to skip that part. The YouTube comments during the recent virtual ceremony told the whole story: family members, friends, and MyCC team members reacting in real time as their person’s name and photo scrolled across the screen after months of late nights, early mornings, and everything in between. For a virtual event, it was about as far from quiet as you can get.
The Starting Block
CEO Amy Onuska opened with a challenge, not a pat on the back. “This ceremony isn’t the finish line,” she told graduates. “It’s your starting block. You’re not just entering a job market. You’re joining an industry that desperately needs your skills and fresh perspective.”
She closed with something closer to a directive. “Call your career services advisor and do whatever it takes to jumpstart your career. Whether that is preparing for your next role or your next raise or locking down that first gig, now is the time. Do not wait.”
Choosing Action Over Inertia
Founder and Chairman Tony Galati has addressed a lot of graduating classes. The message he keeps coming back to is the one that holds up.
“Some of you were stuck in dead-end jobs,” Galati said. “Others were looking for a complete career change. And many were simply searching for something better. While others stayed stuck complaining about their situation, you chose action. You chose to bet on yourself. And that bet has paid off.”
Onuska had already spelled out what that bet cost. “Some of you studied late into the night after putting the kids to bed. Others carved out study time between shifts. Many of you faced personal challenges that made you question if this success was even possible.”
“But here you are.”
Support That Doesn’t Have an Expiration Date
Director of Alumni Services Kelly Dowling reminded graduates that earning their certifications doesn’t mean leaving MyCC behind.
“Whether you’re looking to polish your resume next month, prepare for an interview next year, or explore a completely new IT path five years from now, we’re here for you,” Dowling said. “No expiration date.”
Graduates leave with lifetime access to career services, including resume support, interview prep, and clear pathways to advanced programs like Cyber Security Specialist (CSS), Cyber Security Engineer (CSE), and the Associate Degree program.
One Graduate’s Story
The day before graduation, Edward Toliver joined Get Into IT Live to talk about what it took to get there. More than 20 years in the U.S. Army, a TS/SCI clearance, and time inside Raven Rock Mountain Complex. He’ll tell you the Cyber Warrior Program was one of the two hardest things he’s done in his entire military career. He finished with a 95 average and all four certifications anyway. His advice for anyone considering it: “If you’re not ready to work, if you’re not ready to sacrifice time and things that make you comfortable, do not go through this course. But when you do pass, you have access to training a lot of people aren’t going to get. It is worth it.” Read his full story here.
Watch his chat on YouTube here
The Class of Summer
The graduating class included students from the Information Technology Security and Administration (ITSA), Cyber Security Specialist (CSS), Cyber Security Engineer (CSE), Cyber Warrior, and Associate Degree programs, representing campuses and online cohorts from across the country. With this class, MyComputerCareer has now welcomed more than 33,000 alumni since opening its doors in 2007.
Want to see where an IT training program can take you? Learn more about our programs and find out how fast you can earn the certifications employers are actively hiring for.