I was born and grew up in Montpelier, VT until halfway through high school and then my family moved to northern NY. My parents were David (1941-2019) and Brenda (née Chase, 1947-1983) Learned. Sadly, my mother died suddenly when I was 13. Thankfully, my father lasted until I was 49 when he passed after a long slow deterioration from Parkinson's disease.
After high school, I went on to attend college at SUNY Plattsburgh. I thought I wanted to be a nurse like my mother was but the rigorous academic demands of the Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree were beyond my capabilities, or at least my drive - I flunked out. I then went on to Clinton Community College to at least finish some sort of advanced degree (AA Liberal Arts) but due to money issues and starting a job, I was unable to finish. Since leaving school, I have worked many jobs in various fields such as retail, manufacturing, warehousing. I even turned my volunteer status as an Emergency Medical Technician into a paying job for a number of years.
For years, one of my passions has been technology - from building my own personal computers (Windows PCs) to learning about cell phones. As well as helping friends and family with those pesky home technology problems like "Why isn't the printer... printing?!" to various setting up new cell phones and their related issues. So, when New York State announced the SUNY Reconnect Program to help older New Yorkers obtain a degree from any SUNY or Community college in NY and I jumped on it. That fall, I started back in college, while at the same time, dealing with chemo for my second go around with Cancer! (I liked it so much the first time, I decided to do it again!!!) Returning to school was a shock! Everything has changed so much but I persevered through the first year and I am now in my second year (of two) hoping by next spring to receive an Associates Degree in Computer Information Technology and Cybersecurity!
Let's hope for one anyway! I want to finish this degree and then move on to work in the technology field. There are many facets to the computer field: from the IT Helpdesk to the physical wiring and connecting of offices and datacenters to the information superhighway and many jobs in between. And with AI growing by leaps and bounds, there will be plenty of opportunities to work in the ever-changing and growing industry.