Rocky River High School Computer Science students attend IT career summit
Source: John Benson
Rocky River High School Computer Science students – (front row left to right) Ali Brugh, Enxhi Jonuzaj, Taylor Feaster and Christina Bright & (back row left to right) Mary Bebie, Ella Mathewson, Aleksanda Dunjic, Brent Cox and Austin Wilson – attended Get I.T. Here! Summit. (Photo courtesy of Christina Bright).
In terms of choosing a career with a bright future, high school students can't go wrong with information technology.
Recently Rocky River High School Technology Teacher Christina Bright took eight of her computer science students on a field trip that laid out a clear path for them to pursue and land an IT career.
The industry-led initiative Get I.T. Here! Summit, which was held April 15 at Corporate College East, focused on promoting careers in IT by bringing together students, college representatives and industry professionals (Eaton, Cleveland Clinic, Progressive, OEC, Hyland, et. al).
"I handpicked students I knew that were interested in going to college and studying some type of career in IT," Bright said. "It gave the students the opportunity to actually network with CEOs and business professionals that were in specific areas of IT. Also, it gave them the opportunity to talk to colleges and find out about the majors offered in IT.
"A couple of students arranged shadowing and internship opportunities. It really was a very successful trip."
Rocky River High School junior Mary Bebie left the Get I.T. Here! Summit feeling optimistic about her career choice and the fact more women appear to be heading into the world of IT.
"Considering there are only 18 percent of women in the IT field, there were a lot more girls than I expected," said Bebie, who intends to pursue a double college major of computer science and business. "There are so many kinds of IT careers for women.
"I went because I wanted to meet other business women. I want to open my own business one day so that was really cool to meet people who did that, especially with computer science."
This year marked the second time Bright brought her Rocky River High School computer science students to the Get I.T. Here! Summit.
Bright said, "There are a lot of careers out there that unfortunately are going unfilled because there's not enough students pursuing studies in the area."
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