Ann Marie Edwards, CompTIA+ Computer Technician Program Graduate

Originally from Jamaica, Ann Marie has lived in the Bronx since 2000. She worked as a paralegal and in mortgage processing before pivoting her career towards IT. In her previous roles, she often used computers, sometimes troubleshooting technical issues. This experience sparked her interest in IT security. “We often upload sensitive information, so we need to make sure that it’s really secure,” she shared. Still, she had no formal IT experience when enrolling in Lehman College's CompTIA+ Computer Technician program. Through a quick internet search, she discovered the ASSET scholarship. "I thought, you know what, let me challenge myself. Let me see if I can do this," she shared. The scholarship allowed her to pursue further education and shift her career trajectory. Once accepted into the program, she appreciated the hands-on experience with hardware and the detailed security training it provided. The comprehensive learning experience of Lehman's CompTIA program exceeded her expectations. "We were able to pull apart a laptop, a CPU, and learn to recognize what parts of hardware are what. And then we got to learn the different security features, which was a valuable experience for me." Now, she's focused on securing a job in the IT field and is diligently preparing for the CompTIA exam, which she hopes to take next month.