See also:

Young IT Pros and Mainframes

New Role for Old Geeks

Why would young people starting a career in IT want to work with mainframes? Well, let me tell you my story. It may ease your concerns about who will tend your legacy systems when your current IT pros retire.

My foray into the world of computers began with my family’s purchase of a used Tandy 1000 when I was about

8 years old. I was endlessly fascinated by everything about that computer.

When my school got its first computer with a mouse, I pleaded with my teacher until she finally relented and let me spend time in the library each week using the machine for my extracurricular projects.

In secondary school, I participated in a variety of computer-related courses, including a few programming courses.

So, when it came time to choose a focus for my post-secondary schooling, it wasn’t at all hard for me to decide to work with computers. I’ve always been comfortable with them, and the job market is always ripe with openings.

When I started college, I had only a basic knowledge of programming, but I had a strong desire to learn. The professors at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, provided me with the perfect environment in which to develop my skills and talents.