The Ladies of Padua
Inspire Awe : Eman
The Ladies of Padua
From the rollout of the NetAcad at Padua. Me, Eve and Diane my friend and woman CCIE for 17 years. We are pictured with the first wave of NetAcad students.
The Network Academy was launched at an all girls’ high school near me this past year. Present at the unveiling of the donated equipment from Cisco were a number of great people interested in diversity in the IT work force. From Delaware State University Robert Morand first contacted me to discuss the effort at Padua back in January of 2009. This was followed by calls with Marie Zwickert BDM of Corp Affairs and the Network Academy rep for the area. Things began to move ahead swiftly and soon Steve Bradley, Russell Merrill, Anil Datta, Nancy Bischoff, Jeffrey Harrington, Diane Fasnacht, Eve Tahmincioglu, and Jacqueline Wilson were all swept up in the effort.
Today Padua Academy’s Cisco Network Academy is a successful part of the curriculum for the girls. In this issue of the CCIE Flyer we are pleased to have their comments and articles about their experience here in Delaware.
To each of the girls who have submitted these great pieces of insight into their experiences I say thank you and congratulations for taking the first steps and making the future of IT and Networking look soo much brighter!
Delaney White
My experience with the Cisco program and how it has affected your college and/or career goals.
As a junior at Padua Academy, Cisco Academy came to visit our school to inform us more about their program. I thought it was just another assembly that I had to patiently sit through, but it ended up being much more. At first I found myself thinking of all the possibilities it could offer me in my future, and Cisco Academy IT: Essentials Technology Course just seemed like a mindless decision. I did not even think twice before putting that into my curriculum choices because the options it offered me were astonishing.
For my first day in IT class, I was nervous. I did not know what to expect because previous classmates would not be able to tell me helpful hints or guide me through it. As for our instructor, we could not have asked for anyone better. She is very easy going as well as relatable, so the information just comes very easily to my class and me. She also did a great job of not overpowering us with information throughout each chapter. She truly showed awareness of her students as well as the level of difficulty throughout each section. She was able to explain each term or phrase in ways in which us, high school students, would easily be able to relate to.
As for the Cisco program specifically, it is designed very well. It has been a huge help having both an online resource as well as a text book. The online resource has been an immeasurable help because it serves as both an online text book as well as workbook. It has been equipped with many worksheets and helpful quizzes. Also, it is very user friendly. It has a variety of charts, diagrams, and animations that makes the information much easier to retain.
In addition to the online resources being very user friendly, the Cisco Academy program is magnificently divided into sections. The program is most certainly designed to be challenging but also very informative. Each section has valuable information that can be applied to many every-day situations as well as very high-end computer technology situations. Whether it be the important of stand-offs or how to avoid a brown out, Cisco Academy IT: Essentials course has certainly prepared us for anything and everything.
As of right now I feel very confident in my abilities of taking the A+ exam. I started off the course thinking that I knew so much about computers, but in actuality I truly did have so much to learn. The Cisco Academy IT: Essentials program has certainly given me an excellent foundation to build upon later in college as well as throughout my lifetime. This course has given me the confidence to pursue all my career goals because I feel as though I am now one step ahead of my competition because of my Cisco background.
Megan Petrillo
I have been enrolled in Cisco’s first year program IT Essentials at Padua Academy, and it has changed many aspects of my life. I never truly considered a career in computers or in computer networking. I always headed in a direction towards a career including mathematics, but was never sure of any jobs that had my deepest interest. I have learned that there are so many different career opportunities I can now head towards with the knowledge I know in computers. Cisco has taught me things I never imagined of learning. Even if I did not pursue a career in technology I would still know what I know now. This course has taught me many more skills than just dealing with computers. I have learned how to handle problem-solving, and how to speak respectfully to other people when asking them questions about a machine or at any job. It is most respectful to always ask open questions. Those special techniques I have learned will never leave me, they will always be in my presence and I will use them throughout my life.
I am currently only a junior at Padua Academy, but I was never sure what career I would head towards. I have met with my guidance counselor she told me that my future should involve mathematics in it and even science. I have never truly thought about computers until last year when Cisco visited our school, I was immediately excited to learn more about this course. I have become very interested and I enjoy the challenge it gives me. Growing up my father was a mechanic and I used to love helping him. I have always loved the thought of women pursuing a career that is normal for a man and not a woman. My father, being a mechanic and police officer I know there are not that many women in either field. I also know that there are not many women involved in computers, even at Cisco. I also love having the knowledge many do not have. Computers are the world’s future and I would love to be involved with changing the future’s technology.
Recently, I have met with my guidance counselor again. I told her I enjoy IT Essentials very much and it interests me more than any usual class would. We started to look at colleges and she has suggested things for me to do to pursue my career in computer science, or whichever field I plan to be successful in. I know that computers will end up somewhere in my career. I enjoy the knowledge I am receiving from this class. I believe it has brought my confidence to another level. It is an interesting experience that many do not get the chance to have as a high school student. IT Essentials has already opened up another opportunity for me. I plan to enroll myself in the Microsoft IT Academy Online Learning program and I plan on being Microsoft certified after the course is completed.
At Padua many young women did not take this course, and I am sorry that they missed out on this wonderful opportunity. This is a once in a lifetime experience and they may have not known how interesting this one topic could be. I hope to someday fulfill my aspirations and have my everyday career involved with the world’s technology. I am currently not sure what aspect of computers I would like to enter but I am positive whichever career path I desire to take it will be the right choice for me if it involves computers.
Tessa Flores
Cisco Experience
Even before I signed up for this class I knew that I had made a good decision. I knew this class would be very beneficial for my future college and career plans. I was excited to finally be able to take a class that would help me with what I intended to major in. My experience with this Cisco class so far has been great. I’ve learned a lot about computers and networking that I will be able to take with me where ever I may go. My Cisco experience hasn’t really affected my college and career plans because I had already planned to major in computer science in college and I knew that I wanted to work with computers in some way as my career. It has just strengthened my love for computers and technology and my knowledge of them.
The information taught in this course is very organized, clear, and easy to learn. The worksheets and quizzes that go along with the chapters and lessons are also very helpful. After taking computers apart I was able to see and learn about all of the components needed for it to work. We’ve also learned about computer safety, troubleshooting, and parts and functions of printers. I believe this class will help me understand and have a basic knowledge of computers for when I go to college.
In college I plan to study computer science and programming and maybe even computer forensics. I’m not exactly sure what career I will end up in but I do know that whatever it may be, it will involve computers and this course is a great way to put me in that direction.
Because of all the things that I have learned so far, and will learn later on in the year from taking this class, I know that I will be able to have a bright future. All of the things that I know now I can apply to things that I already do every day. I work with computers all the time for school and other projects, so it is important to have the skills that this course is teaching me. Already I know how to do little things to troubleshoot and figure out small problems that can occur anytime and I know how to be able to correct these problems. The skills that are taught in this lesson I can take and use the knowledge to help others as well.
I am really excited to have this program here at my school, and I am very happy that I got the opportunity to take this class. I feel that it is a great step toward my college and career goals and I know that no matter what, the information I learn here will help me in any aspect of life to come. Computers are such an important piece of technology in our world today and to be able to learn all about them in high school is great.
Jessica Borcky
Technology today is involved in every part of life. Whether it is to find directions to the place you are going to visit or instant messaging friends, technology is prevalent in practically every person’s life. When I first learned that Padua Academy was going to offer a technology course, I was beyond excited. At Padua, students are empowered by the dedicated faculty to enter college, and eventually “the real world,” with confidence to make a difference. But in the real world, we understand that women are not always treated equally, even in our advanced environment. For example, women are underrepresented in the government and in technology fields. By taking the Cisco Systems IT: Essentials PC Hardware and Software, we are taking steps to enter technology fields as intelligent and tech savvy women of the future.
During my junior year, Padua hosted an assembly to present the generous grant from Cisco Systems; Padua was launching Cisco Networking Academy, a course to teach students about PC Hardware and Software. Technology was something that had always interested me. I learned how to make a Power Point presentation when I was in second grade just by opening it up and trying it out. I like to hear about the latest and greatest forms of technology, and I think it is going to be an even better world as technology keeps increasing in our everyday life. The presentation from Cisco was very inspiring. It made me want to take the course and I signed up as soon as I could. I knew that this course would open many opportunities in any career I choose.
As a current student in IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software, I have gained confidence in my technology skills. I know how to put together a computer, install a printer, install and partition a hard drive, and many more tasks. After school, I always tell my parents what I learned and usually start off by saying, “Did you know…,” but they usually do not know and are impressed at what I have learned. Because of my enrollment in Cisco’s Networking Academy, I was able to help my dad fix his computer. He is not quite sure what happened to it, but it would make a beeping sound and not run correctly. I told him that beep codes are a sign that something is not right and he should hit his appropriate function key to go into BIOS so we could try to figure out the problem. We were able to salvage the laptop form the knowledge I had learned from the IT course.
My dad was going to have his friend check out the computer for a fee of $200. I was able to save my family $200, and other money due to the material covered in the Networking Academy, such as troubleshooting.
Though I will only be eligible to take the first year of the course because I am a senior, I know that this course, after taking the certification test, will help me in any career path. I am currently undecided about what major I would like to peruse in college, but with what I have already learned, I know I will be able to use what I learned from IT Essentials. The course has made me more independent and confident, for I know I am learning valuable information. I think that Cisco Systems in a leader in student education and is going to make Padua students, and student everywhere, ready to know and understand the technology they interact with on a daily basis.
Min Shinnick
The Cisco Experience
After hearing that there was going to be a special I.T. Essentials class at our school, I was extremely excited. I have always loved going on the computer and learning all kinds of new techniques whether it be skills on improving my computer or making websites. I am fascinated by technology and working with them is even more fun, so to hear that my school was given the honor to have this Cisco program was awesome! I immediately signed up for the class and was eager to begin learning everything about the very technology that makes this world go around.
The class was exactly what I thought it would be and much more. To do hands on activities like opening up the tower and examining its parts is not only extremely fun but a good way of learning. I probably would have never opened any computer parts if it wasn’t for this class which means I probably would have never gotten this close to technology. The program has definitely opened up my eyes and mind to different interests which may even affect my future plans. I learn something new every day in the Cisco program of which I am able to incorporate into my daily life, since much of what I do involves computers. For instance, I probably go on my laptop everyday for hours at a time of reasons that include school, fun, friends, boredom and or out of curiosity. The internet, in particular, is where I often go to for answers or help in school or life. Furthermore, since I go on the computer a lot, it is great learning about everything and anything that involves the computer.
The Cisco program has made me feel more comfortable around computers and has empowered me with knowledge that is very useful when dealing with technology. For instance, it is nice to know the many ways I can enhance my computer’s performance, if need be. Also, since taking this program, I feel a certain connection to technology. For example, when I hear a commercial talk about 3G or fios I am no longer confused at what those terms mean. By being in the program, I somehow feel more in touch with the world around me than most people my age. In one of my recent classes, my teacher told us about Apple’s very new device called the iPad that was being exposed to the public that very day. The whole class followed up-to-the-second images of the lecture about the iPad, through live feed, which was being held that very instant. During the lecture, my teacher was informing us that, although the iPad is new and the images are breathtaking, this new device is actually not that impressive. It was shocking to hear the downfalls of this device because I thought it looked perfect but taught me to never be fooled by “new”. It was an interesting and informative experience that opened up my mind forever.
The many experiences in the Cisco program have definitely changed some of my future goals. Everything I have learned so far in the Cisco program only makes me want to know more about the technology around me. I hope to definitely get my AP+ certification at the end of the program along with other offered certifications like the Microsoft one. I never thought to go in the I.T. field but its sounding better and better every day I am in the Cisco program. I definitely want to continue to hone my skills around computers and hope one day I will be able to fix other people’s computer dilemmas.
Jillian Sullivan
Cisco Program
When I first learned about the Cisco Systems Network Academy at an assembly that was held at school, I was a little reluctant to sign up for the class. I did not think that it would be something that I was interested in, and I was worried that I would not understand the material in the course. My dad was excited to hear about the new class and thought it would be an excellent opportunity to explore whether or not IT would be something I would like to pursue as a career. My dad convinced me to sign up for the class and I started getting excited about having a class in my daily schedule that would be different than any other class I had taken before.
I have never known exactly what I want to do with my life or what I want to study in college and do as a career. I had always thought that I wanted to do something in the medical field, but I had gone back and forth for about which area in that field I wanted to pursue. After completing about a semester of the Cisco Program, I had already changed my mind and decided that I wanted to pursue a career in IT. I have not yet chosen where I am going to attend college next year, but while I was applying to schools I took into great consideration whether or not the school had a computer science major. I even applied to Marist College, where they are giving scholarships to girls who want to major in computer science. No matter which school I decide to attend next year, I plan on majoring in computer science. Although I find it to be unrealistic and slightly out of reach, my dream job at this point in my life would to do something IT related for NASA.
If I had not decided to take this course, I never would have realized that I could be interested in IT. I would still be unsure about what to study in college and I would probably still not know what I wanted to pursue as a career. I never would have decided on my own to pursue IT and this course definitely opened my eyes to all of the different opportunities there are for women in IT. I think that the hands-on learning aspect of the course is what sparked my interest from the beginning; my favorite classes are the ones when we learn by opening up the computers and looking at the inside. I am so happy that this course was brought to Padua Academy. I wish that I had been a junior when the course was introduced so that I could continue to take the course for another year. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for me because I have taken this course. I cannot wait to learn as much as I can and reach my goals with a career in IT.
Stephanie Gallagher
Cisco Experience
What I once thought was a male dominated career field, I have learned that the I.T. field is an incredible opportunity for anyone to embark on, and I am very pleased that I chose to do just that. I have gained confidence and experience through the Cisco program, enabling me to choose computer science as my college major. Before participating in the Cisco program, I always had a fascination of computers, yet never thought twice about actually pursuing it as a career. Cisco has offered me an amazing experience to begin on such an advanced curriculum level, which will be beneficial to have had, not only when beginning college but for my entire life. I have learned many skills that I can apply to either my academic major in college or to just help out a friend. Before participating in the Cisco program, I never realized how many people in our society don’t completely understand how to use computers. My generation is filled with children who know computers like the back of their hand, and it is important for us to use that skill wisely in the future. The Cisco program has given me the opportunity and tools necessary to use my prior knowledge and to expand my computer understanding on so many levels.
Upon taking the Cisco course, my goals and aspirations have expanded exponentially. I know that having a solid foundation in information technology will assure me a stable career in the long run, whether it is focusing on networking or engineering, or being an I.T. coordinator in any company. I have found that the Cisco program has made computers intriguing to me, because I had never learned about them on such an advanced level. Whether I didn’t know I could prosper in it, or I never thought about majoring in computer science at all, this program has made me realize how valuable knowledge in the computer field is. I decided to major in computer science solely on knowing that technology is such a versatile field and that it can only benefit me in the future, especially since everything will eventually revolve around technology, even more than it does today. Prior to Cisco, I was not comfortable with opening computers and attempting to troubleshoot problems, due to the fear of messing something up in the hardware of the computer. Now, I relish in solving problems and am enthusiastic when I hear the words, “computers off and unplugged!” Cisco has made me into an avid computer learner, always wanting to absorb and retain information, knowing it will only help me in the future.
Overall, I have been thoroughly impressed with the Cisco program. It has opened my eyes to realize that I.T. is a fantastic field, and that more women should be willing to participate in it. If the I.T. field accomplishes as much as it does today with a mostly male populace, imagine what they could accomplish with a more balanced woman to men ratio! I have learned many skills that I can apply to achieve a plethora of the goals I have set for myself. The things I have learned through the Cisco program have influenced my viewpoint on choosing my college major and I know it has set me on the right path.