(Describer) A title: Finding Your Pathway: 2-Year Degree -- Information Technology. In a data center, server lights flicker. A brown-haired young man wears a collared shirt.

[upbeat music]

[upbeat music]

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My name is Evan Morris. My name is Evan Morris. I'm a network administration student at Cincinnati State. I'm a network administration student at Cincinnati State. My college career started off right after high school. My college career started off right after high school. I went to a liberal arts university in the South. I went to a liberal arts university in the South. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do yet. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do yet. I was in a general education degree. I was in a general education degree. I thought to myself instead of, you know, accruing debt, I thought to myself instead of, you know, accruing debt, I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna go ahead I'm gonna go home, I'm gonna go ahead and work full time, get my life sorted out, and work full time, get my life sorted out, get a place, and then go from there. get a place, and then go from there.

(Describer) Evan worked for a local Internet Service Provider, which led him to pursue an associate's degree in IT. Evan inspects electronic equipment.

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The program did a nice job of slowly introducing you The program did a nice job of slowly introducing you to all of the I.T. terms, to all of the I.T. terms, and they start off with maybe basic, like, home networking and they start off with maybe basic, like, home networking to understanding how that works, to understanding how that works, Wi-Fi, things like that. Wi-Fi, things like that. Your basic operating systems Your basic operating systems so that would be Windows, so that would be Windows, and learning how that all operates. and learning how that all operates. You know, changing simple settings, things like that, You know, changing simple settings, things like that, that a normal user would experience. that a normal user would experience.

(Describer) Jeff Vetter.

The computer network administration program The computer network administration program focuses on the software side of networking. focuses on the software side of networking. We work with operating systems and server software. We work with operating systems and server software. We try to work with students We try to work with students as far as support issues go on the software side, as far as support issues go on the software side, dealing with server crashes, dealing with server crashes, issues from users, things like that. issues from users, things like that. Evan, he seemed to be very eager to learn Evan, he seemed to be very eager to learn and learn not only the technical area and learn not only the technical area but the soft skills also. but the soft skills also.

(Morris) A network administrator,

(Morris) A network administrator, what they do would be managing all the devices what they do would be managing all the devices that are connected to a network, that are connected to a network, as well as the users, groups, as well as the users, groups, permissions for all those things, permissions for all those things, how they connect, how they connect, making sure they're up and running making sure they're up and running and connected at all times, and connected at all times, as well as the security of the network as well as the security of the network in terms of allowing, you know, malware, viruses, in terms of allowing, you know, malware, viruses, and things in that nature, email clients, and things in that nature, email clients, things like that. things like that.

(Describer) Evan also was able to Co-Op during the program. Evan coils a cable.

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I did my first co-op about two semesters in. I did my first co-op about two semesters in. It was at a local school district around here. It was at a local school district around here. I actually took online classes, I actually took online classes, so I had the ability to work full-time at the co-op. so I had the ability to work full-time at the co-op. So I was, you know, making good money. So I was, you know, making good money. I was able to pay back some of my school debt. I was able to pay back some of my school debt. They introduced me to my current employer, They introduced me to my current employer, which is HCESC. which is HCESC. It stands for Hamilton County Education Service Center. It stands for Hamilton County Education Service Center. I really enjoyed my experience working in education I really enjoyed my experience working in education and I look forward to doing more in the future. and I look forward to doing more in the future. With the two-year associate degree, With the two-year associate degree, a lot of our graduates are going out a lot of our graduates are going out and making $35,00 to $40,000 a year and making $35,00 to $40,000 a year which isn't bad for a two-year associate degree. which isn't bad for a two-year associate degree. And then certifications can add to that. And then certifications can add to that.

(Describer) Evan is happy with his choice to pursue a 2-Year Degree in IT.

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Two-year associates degree was right for me. Two-year associates degree was right for me. Looking back at it, Looking back at it, I was at that liberal arts four-year college; I was at that liberal arts four-year college; I was taking general ed classes I was taking general ed classes and I wasn't interested in any of them. and I wasn't interested in any of them. Coming out of high school, you know, Coming out of high school, you know, I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. Deciding what would be best for my career and my future, Deciding what would be best for my career and my future, I decided to go back to school I decided to go back to school especially after doing research especially after doing research and from there I got my degree, and from there I got my degree, and I am well on my way to enjoying my career. and I am well on my way to enjoying my career.

(Describer) Words appear: Find your path at www.cincy-americangraduate.org Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.