Tower Winter/Spring 2024 - 15

/// STUDENT PROFILE
A PATH TO EXPLORE
Carla Sofia Troche Muñoz is in her first year at
Thaddeus Stevens College. While she was in high
school, Carla was unsure of what career path she
would pursue upon graduation, and to fill a gap
in her schedule, she enrolled in a robotics class.
Carla discovered a knack for programming that she
enjoyed, and her teacher encouraged her to explore
the field. That chance encounter with robotics
would lead her to enroll in the Computer & Network
Systems Administration (CNSA) program at the
College. This program at Thaddeus Stevens College
doubled in size at the start of this school year.
As a high school senior, Carla focused on considering
many career field options, intending to avoid limiting
her career paths. This perspective weighed into her
decision to pursue education at Thaddeus Stevens
College; Carla felt she was investing in her curiosity for
the field. She recognized she would gain valuable skills
and a solid foundation for her career without the burden
of intensive student loans to complete the program.
" This is a very broad program,
which I like, that's one of the
reasons I picked it so that
I can get into networking,
computer hardware, or
programming, " Carla said.
For Carla, the College's two-year degree model was
attractive. She plans to transfer to a four-year
institution after she completes her degree at the
College so she can expand her computer networking
knowledge or branch into other fields.
" This is a very broad program, which I like. That's
one of the reasons I picked it so that I can get into
networking, computer hardware, or programming, "
Carla said. If she does end up following the specific
computer networking path, her experience at Thaddeus
Stevens College will help her land good jobs, she says.
Through the CNSA program, Carla has developed
competencies that apply across both academic and
industry settings. One of those transferrable skills
is the ability to troubleshoot as unexpected issues
arise. This can even happen in class or the middle
of a test. Once, Carla's computer ceased working
correctly while she was supposed to be taking a
test-she had to pause and diagnose the issue while
finding a workaround to complete the exam.
Their program instructor teaches the CNSA students
to treat their class assignments as if they were a
job responsibility. Students are expected to be able
to identify dysfunction and rectify it. " I can ask for
help, of course, " Carla says, " but because I will be
the one troubleshooting other people's problems,
I'm expected to troubleshoot my own, too. "
As she continues her education, Carla is excited for the
opportunity to hone her skills and establish a foundation
upon which she can build. This is one of the many
reasons Thaddeus Stevens College invests in expanding
programs to meet student demand and workforce
needs. For Carla, the CNSA program will equip her
with confidence, regardless of what the future holds.
Thaddeus Stevens College : 14
Tower Winter/Spring 2024

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