Meet the Computer Support Specialists

 

 

EricaGriffin

Name: Erica Griffin

High School Attended: South Granville High School

College Attended: N/A

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: I wanted to become a Computer Support Specialist because I enjoy helping people learn the proper way to use their technical equipment. I am also interested in learning the technical skills needed to become a computer programmer.

Technical and Personal goals: My personal goal this year is to become fully certified. Also, I want to continue my education so I can obtain my Bachelors degree.

Non-technical areas of interest: I love being with friends and family, finding new places to hang out in and travel to. I loveee reality television (Love and Hiphop, Empire, Black Ink etc..) Also, I love to sleep!

Technical areas of interest: Troubleshooting hardware/software, networking, social media, media and building computers.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: After being in the CSS apprenticeship, I want to have a job in the field of IT working for a company as a technician.

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I want to go to a four year college for my Bachelors degree and take it a step further to pursue my Masters.

How has your experience in the UTP program changed your outlook: Before entering the Urban Technology Project, I was unsure of what I wanted my major to be in college, and I was unsure of what actually sparks my interest. This program provided me with a pathway to follow. I am now able to effectively help others if there is an issue with their technology, and I am able to help myself. If there is something I can’t figure out, I know the steps I can take to troubleshoot the problem. I want to one day be a technician for a major company, or a software engineer. I would also love to learn more and become more involved in networking.

 

 

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Name: Nick Held

High School Attended:Swenson

College Attended: N/A

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: To further my knowledge, gain experience, and expand my professional network

Technical and Personal goals: To obtain my Net+ and A+

Non-technical areas of interest: Music

Technical areas of interest: Break/fix

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: To continue my career as a technician

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I want to go to a four year college for my Bachelors degree and take it a step further and pursue my Masters.

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Name: Derek Schwartz

High School Attended:Abraham Lincoln High School

College Attended: N/A

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: I really enjoyed my pre-apprenticeship as a Digital Service Fellow, and I wanted to continue to work at schools within the Philadelphia School District. I really enjoy the school environment and assisting students and faculty with various day to day computer problems, as well as larger projects.

Technical and Personal goals: I want to get my CompTIA Network+ by January, 2016 and then pursue the CompTIA Security+ in the spring of 2016

Non-technical areas of interest: Listening to music, walking/biking Pennypack Park in the northeast, and building things.

Technical areas of interest: Building gaming rigs. Messing with Linux Operating Systems. Minor programming, starting to get an interest in Python. Playing as well as building video games.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: Either to continue working with the School District providing support to various schools, or working with the state or federal government, most likely in computer forensics..

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I’d like to get a college degree in computer forensics or a related field.

 

Maalik Groves

Name: Maalik Groves

High School Attended: Philadelphia Learning Academy South

College Attended: N/A

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: I enjoyed being a DSF and wanted to go farther into the program to gain more experience.

Technical and Personal goals: Gain my CompTIA A+ certification, ACMT, and Net +.

Non-technical areas of interest: I am a great home cook. I like to grill, fry, sautee, bake, you name it! Actually, before I came to love technology, I had aspirations of being a chef.

Technical areas of interest: My areas of interest are break/fix. I’m beginning to lean towards security though.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I would like to get into the security aspect of technology.

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I plan to obtain my certifications and get a career in technology.

Shabazz Ransom

Name: Shabazz Ransom

High School Attended: Academy at Palumbo

College Attended: Penn State

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: My reason for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice is to use this as an opportunity to become a professional. Working in a professional environment and being the youngest adult gives me hands-on experience for growth. I have gained an understanding of how the workforce operates. Becoming a Computer Support Specialist also gave me the opportunity to improve my technical skills and to add to a young person’s life, as well as add to the lives of the teachers and staff with whom I work. When they have a technical issue, they reach out to me for assistance. The feeling that I mean something and am part of the team is amazing.

Technical and Personal goals: My technical goals are to obtain my A+ and ACMT Certification. I also want to improve professionally and technically. My personal goal for the year is to truly figure out concrete long term goals by reflecting on my experiences and planning out my future. I already have passions involving my church, career, school, relationship, and running goals.

Non-technical areas of interest: I enjoy attending my church, running, exploring medical ideas, nutrition, music, outings, and food.

Technical areas of interest: My technical areas of interest include medical, media, and education.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: After the CSS apprenticeship, my future career plan is to obtain a technical job working in the medical field, maybe as a doctor. I am also interested in being a Pastor.

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I plan to obtain my certifications and achieve a career in technology.

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Name: Haomin Tian

High School Attended: NO.10 High School in Fushun

College Attended: Dalian University of Foreign Language-2011 Community College of Philadelphia-2016

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: Being a CSS was my goal when I was a DSF. My mentor Anthony Elliot was my role model and inspired me to be a CSS so that I can pass on the integrity of the apprenticeship to my DSF when I become a CSS.

Technical and Personal goals: My technical goals are on two sides; IT and CS. For Information Technology field, My goal is to get the MCSA, CCNA and Security+. Once I finish those, I will move to coding.

Non-technical areas of interest: Music, exercise and reading are my main interests.

Technical areas of interest: Coding. Troubleshooting.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I want to be a system administrator or network administrator first. It would be ideal if I could work in a college so that I can get further education for free.

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: I will achieve my associate degree at CCP by spring, 2017. I will then apply for a master degree program at either Drexel or Temple.  

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Name: Emma Ortiz

High School Attended: Abelardo Martinez Otero

College Attended: ITT-Tech institute

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: The reason for becoming a Computer Support Specialist is because I want to keep myself updated on emerging technologies, and this is an opportunity and a privilege that I can use to keep growing in the field.

Technical and Personal goals: My goals for the year are to work hard doing what I enjoy, get my A+, Network+, Security+ and graduate with an Electronics Engineer degree from ITT-Technical Institute.

Non-technical areas of interest: My non-technical ares of interest are listening to music and going to far places and getting lost with my family.

Technical areas of interest: My technical areas of interest are electronics; all about current flow (DC/AC) and a lot of computer security application media.  

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: My future career plan after my apprenticeship is to create my own business fixing computers and fixing any electronic device

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: My future education plans include graduating this year with an Electronic Engineer degree. Thereafter, I plan on pursuing a degree in computer security.

 

 

Name: Briheen Greene

High School Attended: Strawberry Mansion

College Attended: N/A

Reasons for becoming a Computer Support Specialist Apprentice: I wanted to become a Computer Support Specialist because I enjoy helping people learn.

Technical and Personal goals: My technical goals for the remainder of the year will be to obtain my CompTIA A+ certification, as well as my ACMT certification. My personal goal would have to be keeping a job and staying alive.

Non-technical areas of interest: I consider myself a jack of all trades and there aren’t many things I dislike.

Technical areas of interest: The technical area I’m most interested in would have to be building computers.

Career plans after the CSS apprenticeship: After receiving my Journeyperson Certificate from the CSS IT Apprenticeship, I would like to become a CRNA.

Education plans after the CSS apprenticeship: After the CSS apprenticeship, I plan on going to a four-year college to obtain the skills needed to become a CRNA.