Individuals are the sum of their experiences. Each event, whether good or bad, contributes to who we become. Fortunately, while experiences shape our character and influence our outlook on life, they do not determine destiny; we are always free to choose how we respond to situations and conditions.
While navigating life’s challenges is seldom easy, oftentimes it’s our interactions with others that make the difference between accepting our lot or deciding to leave familiar surroundings and strive to be more. Sometimes the right person at the right time can help set us on a path to unimagined success and joy. Such is the journey of Jay Mathis, the CTE-Cyber security teacher at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Va.
Mathis was born and raised in Morristown, Tenn.— childhood haunt of famed frontiersman Davy Crockett. Sleepy little municipalities rarely offer abundant opportunities for young men fresh out of high school and Morristown had no surprises for Mathis.
After taking stock of the situation, Mathis realized that his choices were limited. “I was never a good student, and I knew that college, for me, was not an option,” he said.
Needing a job and yet not wanting to stay in Morristown, Mathis figured the Navy was at least a place to start. “I didn’t sign up out of love of country, that came later,” he admits, “all I knew was that I wanted to somehow better myself.”
Join the Navy and learn IT
In the Navy, Mathis’ first occupation choice was law enforcement. Unfortunately, the Navy was not accepting MPs at the time of his enlistment, so Mathis settled on becoming a radioman. “It was what would fulfill my obligation and get me out the quickest,” he said.
この記事は Certification Magazine の April 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Certification Magazine の April 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Wanted: Your Cloud Computing Skills
Employers need cloud computing expertise, but demand is outstripping supply
The Job Before Your First Job
An IT internship can be your strong first step toward a rewarding professional career
Professionalizing the CLOUD
A conversation with the exam architect behind the hottest certification in cloud security
SETTING HIS SIGHTS ON SUCCESS
Ohio IT student has mastered computer repair, cybersecurity, and certification
The Typist Who Became a Technologist
Long time Utah IT educator got her first exposure to computers in high school
Pick a Cloud, Any Cloud
Which cloud computing models best support business aims — and which ones should you learn?
Here, There, and Everywhere
Distributed cloud computing is bringing the cloud closer to all of us
Master of Efficiency
A skilled operations analyst fine tunes processes to help organizations flourish
Learn Smarter, Not Harder
Everyone is doing online learning now — but that doesn’t mean they’re doing it right
From Horizon to Horizon
No matter where you look, cloud technology is blanketing the IT industry