My Journey So Far

 I can remember our first computers. I spent hours trying and failing to program a little bitty Sinclair computer my father got. Next came an Apple IIe while I was in elementary school. My brother and I used to play a pricing game trying to get the best price to sell apples at.

While I was in High School my dad got our first modern IBM style PC. Back then you dialed in to bulletin boards. It wasn't until college that I really started using computers though. Word processor programs like Word Perfect (before it had a modern graphical user interface (GUI)). 

I finally built my first computer - by buying components separately and putting them together - in the very early 2000's. I loved that computer. To put something together like that and figure it all out and then watch it work was awesome!

Since then I've used computers extensively through the years, but as a tool. I've upgraded my laptops myself. Used accounting software, spreadsheets, and document editors. Taught myself to do picture and video editing using various tools like Adobe, Gimp, Inkscape, Clipchamp, and others. 

I learned how to create and manage websites. First through GoDaddy, then launching, creating and maintaining WordPress sites on AWS and Google Cloud. Because my needs are simple I've settled on creating nearly-free websites now using Google Sites and Blogger

It wasn't until recently though that I thought about turning my knowledge of computers into, potentially, a job. In late September of 2023 I broke my leg rolling as I was training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. My means of employment primarily involved physical labor. You cannot do physical labor (well) with a broke leg.

As I faced the prospect of having to be house and couch bound for 8 weeks or so I decided I needed to do something new. Based on my prior experience, and the joy and satisfaction I get from figuring out and resolving how to do things on the computer, I launched into self-paced learning through Coursera.

For some undefined reason Cybersecurity fascinates me. I started Coursera's Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate and Google IT Support Professional Certificate. I expect to be done with both certificates in late February 2024. I've also enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College to take there CompTIA A+ certificate review course which includes 2 exam passes to be used at the end of the class. With a little effort, I hope to be CompTIA A+ certified in late March 2024.