Josie J.

**DISCLAIMER: The 220-801 test is about computer hardware, networking, and operational procedures, with the test focusing heavily on PC hardware. The 220-802 test is about the operating system, security, mobile devices, and troubleshooting.**

My name is Josie, and I’m the girl who got certified in CompTIA’s A+ Certification. I initially embarked on my journey as a programmer in 2008, but truly didn’t develop a love for it until the summer of 2009. The very first programming language I taught myself was HTML (Hypertext Mark-Up Language), and given that it was 2009, and I lacked proper resources (I was 12), I ultimately learned through a process of trial and error via the manipulation of abandoned webpages, and their source codes. From there, once I learned HTML, I moved on to CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and then came Java.

Since 2008, my programming, and IT skills have come a very long way; for example, I’ve built and programmed my own robot, while also taking part in the Robotics class that one of the science wing teachers offers, which has been a great experience for me during my high school career. I believe that achieving my A+ certification while still being in high school is a great feat that, though it’s only entry level, will show my future IT employers that while I was in high school, I had the strength to get entry-level professional credentials at the age of 18.

The book I used to study for the CompTIA A+ exam was the third edition of the CompTIA A+ 220-801 and 220-802 Cert Guide, Deluxe Edition (ISBN: 0789749807), but that book won’t be of use to you, as the 220-801 and 220-802 versions of the A+ test are being discontinued on June 30^th, 2016, and replaced with the 220-901 and 220-902 (the 900 series is modernized and up to date as technology is rapidly changing),in addition to the book, I also used a website called Cybrary, (https://www.cybrary.it/) which is an Open Source learning hub that has a large array of resources for CompTIA and other IT certifications and the studying that goes along with them. With that said, the certification tests aren’t easy. It took me two tries to pass, with my first try being 3 points short of passing on the hardware portion of the test, while my score on the software portion of the test was the maximum amount of points you can receive. I felt extremely defeated at first, but then I realized that speed isn’t everything, as it had only been around 5-6 months that I had been studying. The second time I took the test, I passed, and I believe that’s because I took the extra time to go back, and review the materials.

As for my future in IT, I’m going to major in Computer Science at Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas – The third best engineering school in the state – for my undergraduate studies. From there, I’m going to study Software Engineering for my Master Degree, but moreover; I’m going to be getting both degrees at once. My degree program is comprised of 2 years of Computer Science undergraduate studies, and then 3 years of Software Engineering graduate studies, combined into a total of 5 years, where you graduate with both your Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE) degrees. That means that I’ll have my MSSE degree by the age of 24, giving me the upper-hand in the competitive job market that is Information Technology; and especially in my intended field of Software Engineer. After I attend university, I have aspirations to work for companies like Google, AMD, Sony PlayStation, and NVIDIA as a Lead Software Engineer, where I can develop, maintain, and improve their programs like Android OS for mobile devices, User Interfaces for gaming consoles and other devices, or GPU drivers to improve gameplay.