Ismal (pronounced Ishmael) Williams said he has tinkered with tech since he was little so becoming part of the Cybersecuity program at Mid-America Technology Center in Wayne fit right into his plans. A junior at Wynnewood High School, Williams discovered MATC through his school. “At first I thought I might go into criminal justice but when I found out about the cybersecurity program I said I’ve got to get in there.” The program is taught by Justin Young who spent 22 years in the technology field starting as a computer repair tech and moving up to network administrator. “This is a two-year program with the goal of preparing the students to get their Comptia A plus and Comptia security certifications. Along the way they will get their PC pro and security certifications with the option of obtaining certifications in fundamentals of technology, computer repair technician and network technician,” stated Young. Ismal has just completed his first year of the program and says it initially had its challenges but became easier as the year went along. “It’s pretty much what I expected it to be. I struggled a bit at the first of the year but had a lot of time to study and I was pleasantly surprised when I passed my final test.” At Wynnewood, Ismal plays in the offensive and defensive lines for the Savages football team and says there is a similarity in preparation for the two areas. “It was like when I was getting for my final test. I had to study hard Monday through Thursday to get ready for the test and it’s the same for football where you practice all week to get ready to play Friday night and execute on the field what you practiced.” Instructor Young says once these students finish this course, the job possibilities are limitless. “Once they get their Comptia certifications, they’ll probably start in an entry level position as a help desk or repair tech then after they’ve gained some experience they can move to a network administrator or a tier two or three cybersecurity job and, if they stay with it, an IT instructor or network engineer. Young had praise for Ismal following his first-year performance. “He’s a football player so he starts his day with a workout before he ever gets to school and he’s a hard worker in class and has done well in all of our competitions.” Another area the class has explored is the role of artificial intelligence (A-I) in their world. “A-I is an important tool in this field,” said Ismal. “Mr. Young shows us articles all the time about A-I advancement and how it’s used as a resource to help get things done faster.” Ismal says he’s looking forward to completing the course next year and pursuing a career in the cybersecurity field following graduation. He would urge high school students who aren’t sure what they want to do after high school to consider career tech but above all find something they’re passionate about and that they’ll enjoy.
