Jamahl Mason spent much of his childhood fascinated with technology. His interest in computer games and MySpace evolved into passions for connecting with others online. His father worked for Job Corps, so he already knew well what the program had to offer and its value. However, Jamahl did not have a typical Job Corps journey. 
Jamahl’s high school offered a special partnership with Shreveport Job Corps Center for select students to participate in an hour of career training each day from their high school. Through this dual-enrollment-style training, Jamahl was able to earn his certification in Office Administration from Job Corps while earning his high school diploma without moving to campus. He occasionally would have the opportunity to visit campus for community events, including dances, holiday parties and assemblies.
Throughout the program, Jamahl realized that career training was very different from his high school curriculum. He was introduced to basic computer skills, operations, programs and applications, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access software.
“Compared to reading, math, science and other normal high school classes that came easier to me, career training and computer science lessons from Job Corps really challenged me.”
After graduating from high school and Job Corps, Jamahl pursued higher education at Grambling State University. He started his college journey as a political science student; but after Jamahl’s first semester, he remembered how much he had enjoyed his computer science classes through Job Corps and decided to declare computer information systems as his new major.
After completing Job Corps’ Office Administration training program while in high school, Jamahl felt well prepared for his college computer classes and even had the opportunity to return to Shreveport Job Corps Center as an intern in the IT department. Jamahl’s first experience training for a career had evolved into a first opportunity at working in his field.
In his first computer information systems course, Jamahl realized he was relearning the knowledge and skills he had gained from his Job Corps training. This helped him advance in his coursework ahead of his peers.
Jamahl earned his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and was immediately met with several employment opportunities before eventually landing his dream job.
Throughout his career, Jamahl has served as a software QA tester at Shasta QA, an IT help desk agent at Tech Mahindra and an IT service desk agent at ProSphere. He currently works as an information technology support specialist at Hardware Resources, where he continues to use skills learned from his Job Corps program, internship and college courses.
“If I could go back and give any insight to my younger self, I wish I had known I didn’t necessarily need a college education and that I could get my trade and go into the workforce straight out of high school. I depended on college for a career instead of actually using my trade.”
Jamahl’s sights are set on a career in cybersecurity. He is currently studying for additional credentials and hopes to open his own company within five years.
“My advice for those on the fence? Go for it. If you’re having any doubt for what you want to do, go get your trade and get started!”
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2008 Employer: IT Support Specialist, Hardware Resources, Bossier City, Louisiana Hometown: Virginia Phone: 318-655-4751 Email: mahlyd214@gmail.com Submitted by: Lydia Henry Notes:
Source: Ty Graham, Center Director, Shreveport Job Corps Center, (318) 207-6766