Cecelia Schartiger
IBM
Rocket Center, WV USA
"Without a little bit of discomfort, there is no growth. It’s OK to be uncomfortable and scared because without it you just remain stagnant. You have to pop your own bubble, burst out, and try something new."
Career Roadmap
Cecelia's work combines: Technology, Education, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Teachers are amazing and I did love teaching. However, I knew deep down that I would probably get bored with teaching down the road and I was struggling to make it a stable career for myself. For me, I just wanted something more and something that could keep my attention. At the end of the day, the life of a teacher wasn't for me, which is why I switched to technology.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Associate's Degree
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Allegany College of Maryland
Bachelor's Degree
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Allegany College of Maryland
Associate's Degree
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
Frostburg State University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Growing up, my family moved around a lot and there wasn’t a lot of consistency—I moved in with my grandmother in the sixth grade.
2.
Attended Frostburg State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and teaching.
3.
After graduating, I struggled to find consistent work as a teacher and even substituted for about a year—but with a family to support, I made the decision to find something more stable.
4.
I was able to translate the behavioral skills I’d learned as a teacher into a job as a project staffing professional at IBM’s center in Rocket Center, West Virginia.
5.
As I learned more about the technology industry while working at IBM, I began to notice the buzz surrounding cybersecurity and it piqued my interest.
6.
I started taking cybersecurity classes at our local community college in order to learn the basic skills.
7.
I reached out to the manager of IBM’s local cybersecurity team to express my interest and to find out about potential career paths in that field.
8.
In 2016, I got a job as a compliance officer for IBM’s highly secured cloud environment for U.S. government clients—I continue to build my skills both in the classroom and through on-the-job training.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Why do you want to change your career? You should just stay a teacher.
How I responded:
Teachers are amazing and I did love teaching. However, I knew deep down that I would probably get bored with teaching down the road and I was struggling to make it a stable career for myself. For me, I just wanted something more and something that could keep my attention. At the end of the day, the life of a teacher wasn't for me, which is why I switched to technology.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I have my degree in teaching, but I struggled to find consistent work in that field. Transitioning into technology was a learning curve. I had to go back to school and learn about a new industry. I had to get out of my own way and do the hard work.
When I made the transition into working in technology, I quickly learned that keeping up with all of the advancements in the field was going to be a challenge. Every day there is something new to figure out and it can be stressful staying up-to-date.
Going back to school took a lot of sacrifices. I had to give up time with my family, build a new routine, and dedicate myself fully to learning. I had to stay focused and driven to get that degree. In the end, it was worth it.
Growing up and living with my grandmother on a single income was a real challenge. I didn't get my first computer until after high school. I used to use a typewriter to do homework or I had to go to the library.