Nothing Holding Me Back
When he first heard Indianapolis Urban League’s Urban Tech Jobs Program on a radio advertisement, Donnell Robey recorded so he would have the contact information for the office. But he didn’t believe the program would be able to help him because of a felony conviction more than two decades in his past.
But after attending the New Beginnings program to enhance his employability skills, Donnell, who had always loved computers, forged ahead and decided to go into training to earn a credential within the Information Technology industry.
While in training, Donnell experienced personal loss, including the death of his mother and the mother of his children. Additionally, he lost his only mode of transportation, which was further complicated his life as a single father. Despite these obstacles, he was able to earn 14 Industry Recognized Credentials, including the highly coveted CompTIA Security+ global certification, which validates the baseline skills needed to perform core security functions and pursue an Information Technology security career.
ResultUpon earning his Security + certification, Donnell was enrolled into an externship with Cygnus Computing and Telecommunications. Having an opportunity to learn on-the-job, Donnell was able to apply classroom knowledge to real world in a setting that re-enforces the skills he has learned throughout training.
Looking into the future, Donnell hopes either to climb the corporate ladder, or to start his own technology company. “This program is fabulous,” he said. “I get upset thinking about people who do not take advantage of this opportunity.”
Donnell is now working diligently with the staff of Indianapolis Urban League to train other participants and gain full-time employment with the employer of his choice. His words of wisdom for anyone in the program: “Don’t go at it alone,” and “Let nothing interrupt your focus.”