Hallmark University is proud to bring your attention to a compelling story featuring cybersecurity student, Rene Cuevas, who had success with Ready to Work SA. This story was written by Ready to Work SA for their monthly newsletter. Join us as we delve into Rene’s experiences and achievements, shedding light on the collaborative efforts that showcase the success stories within educational communities.
Participant Highlight – Rene Cuevas thought cybersecurity wasn’t his thing. Turns out, it was.
Rene Cuevas is well on his way to a brighter future. The 41-year-old will earn his Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity this Spring, and he’s already been hired as a Triage Security Analyst for the security operations firm, Arctic Wolf.
“I heard about RTW through Hallmark University. They had an after-school financial aid meeting open to all students. I took time to get more information. I learned that RTW helps people get into a specific choice field. Since I was going to school for cybersecurity and looking for an opportunity, I took a chance.”
Cuevas enrolled in Coding Dojo’s cybersecurity training that kicked off his journey. He’d been working at restaurants prior to going back to school, wondering how he was going to take care of his family in the future.
“My life has changed dramatically, Cuevas said. “I went from earning $15 an hour to $30 an hour. My income has exponentially grown through RTW. I would not be here had it not been for RTW. It’s helped me all around, and my income now makes me so much more secure.”
Cuevas said he told his brother two years ago that cybersecurity wasn’t for him, even though he’d always been into technology. But when he and his wife were expecting their first child, it triggered him to start looking for ways to provide for his growing family and he thought again about his feelings on cybersecurity.
“It’s a fast-paced track,” he said. “There are over 700 fields in cybersecurity! I learn best with hands-on experience. I fell in love with it.”
Cuevas experienced obstacles along the way, such as maintaining a working vehicle, securing an internship and completing his bootcamp courses. But with RTW’s support system, he was able to accomplish all of his education and training and dealt with all that life had thrown his way.
“There were people who cared about me furthering my education and preparing me for my new career,” he said. “They’re still checking in on me and my progress. RTW is phenomenal.”
Cuevas said he recommends RTW because the programs are tailored to just about every career path that someone would want.
“They want you to be prepared,” he said. “They really care about you. I would suggest you exploring options through the program to gain the skills to start a career.”
Read the original newsletter HERE.