Patrick with his internship manager Patrick Young
AGE: 21
POSITION: I.T. Technician Intern
EMPLOYER: Urban Tech Academy
“I was homeless, desperately looking for a job and income. I was also looking for any way to start a career in I.T. as I am very fond of computers and tech.” So shares our Client of the Month Patrick.
Twenty-one-year-old Patrick found YJC in September and jumped right in, participating in workforce readiness training (WRT) and our I.T. (information technology) program. Thanks to WRT, Patrick saw a big improvement in his resume-building and interviewing skills. “When I first started, my ability to complete an interview was poor. Now I can more confidently advocate for myself,” he says. “And my resume now looks very professional for the environment I will be working in.”
That environment? The world of tech, of course. Through YJC, Patrick got a paid work experience as an I.T. technician intern at Urban Tech Academy just one month after signing up as our client. Through this paid work experience, Patrick is getting hands-on experience in the field of his dreams, plus he’s earned multiple I.T. certifications during his time there. YJC assisted with work attire and transportation to make sure Patrick could take advantage of this fantastic opportunity, which he has done with gusto.
As for how Patrick feels about his experience with YJC, here’s what he has to say: “It really did help my confidence in my ability to work in the I.T. field. There aren't really a lot of people of color in the I.T. field. YJC has helped me overcome my imposter syndrome about it.”
He also appreciates his time with his career coach Adam, whom he describes as “very collaborative. Easy to work with and understand. I am always updated in a reasonable amount time on anything that I need to do.”
Patrick is eager to build on the momentum he’s created. “I plan on becoming a very competent I.T. specialist in the future,” he reports, “and YJC has served as an excellent launchpad for it.”
Patrick’s career coach Adam says, “He has a bright future ahead of him”—and we agree!
