Success in networking isn't just for geeks or guys
Student with almost no computer experience finishes top of her class
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| "You recognize what's going on and understand more about the technology. You can see it and use it and that's really exciting." - Kayla Savard |
Kayla Savard was pretty much a computer neophyte, but the idea of taking computer courses interested her. Up to that point, her computer had mostly been used for playing solitaire, but that was about to change.
In her first Cisco course, IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software, initially, it was difficult. "I was very intimidated and considered stopping. It was a small class, mostly boys, and they would have interesting discussions but I couldn't contribute anything," Savard says. The other students were passionate about IT and knew so much, which was a big hurdle to overcome, but she persevered. "It became something I wanted to do." Even more, Savard says it became a challenge for her and she wanted to see if she could surprise herself.
She ended up graduating from West Kildonan Collegiate in Winnipeg, Manitoba as only the second girl to achieve a dual diploma in IT, with academic standing and a technical diploma.
While Savard isn't likely to take up networking as a career, the experience of taking the Cisco Networking Academy courses is one she would highly recommend. "It didn't have to be something I knew a lot about or that I was going to apply to my life; it was a sense of accomplishment that was the most important thing," she says. Savard believes everyone needs to feel they've accomplished something.
She says taking the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) courses was very worthwhile. "It's hands-on, you get to interact with the other students and get their ideas." She also points out, "You can see where things are. I can see where the towers and switches are when I'm walking around campus. You recognize what's going on and understand more about the technology. You can see it and use it and that's really exciting."
Savard is currently attending the University of Winnipeg taking a variety of science courses that interest her, in particular physics, which conflicted with her computer courses in high school. She thinks she might take a bachelor of science in the physics stream and see where that takes her.
Pam Baldaro is one of two women IT instructors at West Kildonan. She taught Savard all her Cisco Networking Academy courses including the four semesters of CCNA. Baldaro says Savard got hooked on the "Hey, does this do this and that do that?" of computers. Once she got going, she says Savard whizzed through with top marks.
She can clearly see the benefits Savard got from taking the courses. "It helped her become an all-around person. You never know what you are going to be but she has given herself a lot more opportunity as she understands the technology of the world," Baldaro says.
Savard also stood out because she was willing to help anybody anytime. Her teacher says she never hesitated to reach out to the other kids and they looked up to her, as she was always very humble.
Taking CCNA doesn't mean you have to pursue a career in IT. Any employer will see its value. As Savard says, "I think employers recognize the impact of technology. They recognize and appreciate that people are incorporating it into their education."
February 2006
