Student connects with TSTC’s computer networking program

(HUTTO, Texas) - Henry Brown has always known that he wanted to work with computers, but deciding where he wanted to obtain his education took more time.

Brown is part of the Texas State Technical College East Williamson County campus's inaugural group of students in Computer Networking and Systems Administration and is seeking his Associate of Applied Science degree.

"I grew up in Austin, but my grandparents live in Oklahoma," he said. "I grew up a big fan of Oklahoma University and went there first out of high school for computer science, with a plan to change to management information systems. After two semesters, it just wasn't working out."

Brown spent some time in Tulsa, taking general education classes and figuring out his next steps.

"After a while, it felt like time to get back to reality, and I came back to Austin," he said. "I still wanted an education and a career in computer networking, but a lot of schools in Texas didn't like that my credits were from schools in Oklahoma. Then I found TSTC, and they took every general education credit plus one technical class."

Brown comes to campus several days a week to work through lessons in the lab on campus.

"I'm taking four classes this semester, and I'm on at least module four in each of them right now," he said. "The classes have about six modules each, so I'm more than halfway through each class just before midterms."

He expects to finish his degree in late 2025.

"If I push hard, I could be done in the summer," he said. "But I only have technical classes left, and taking four technical classes at once can be a lot, so it might take until the fall semester next year."

While preparing to start his technology career, Brown works as a concessions manager at Q2 Stadium. He is optimistic about his future employment opportunities with a TSTC education.

"I'm the youngest person in my role at the stadium. I paid off my student loans from Oklahoma already, and I'm debt-free right now," he said. "I want to start looking for a job in the technology industry soon, once I finish some of these technical classes and have more skills."

According to onetonline.org, network and computer systems administrators earn a median salary of $92,360 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 20% between 2020 and 2030.

Computer Networking and Systems Administration is one of TSTC's performance-based education programs in which students can move through their training at a flexible pace. The program is offered in online, in-person and hybrid formats.

At TSTC, students can pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration, certificates of completion in IT Support Tier 1 and IT Support Tier II, and an advanced technical certificate in Cloud Computing.

Registration for TSTC's spring semester begins Oct. 28. To learn more, visit tstc.edu.

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