As Senior Communications & Marketing Specialist for TECH CORPS, I have the privilege of visiting our programs, meeting students, and sharing the stories that show our mission in action. Whether I’m gathering content for social media, annual reports, or our website, I’m always looking for the moments that reveal how students are building skills, confidence, and opportunity.
My recent visit to Computing Career Corps introduced me to one of those moments, and to a student I won’t forget.
When I visited the program, I met Salma, a ninth grader at Horizon Science Academy, whose energy and perspective immediately stood out. She was bright, confident, and eager to share how the program had shaped her.
The first thing Salma did when I asked what had impacted her most was pull up her Soft Skills Program on her computer. As she clicked through her completed work, her instructor happened to walk by and smiled, giving her an “atta girl” for finishing every unit before the rest of the class.
Salma smiled right back and said, “My favorite soft skill is work ethic.”
That small moment said a lot. She was proud of the work she had put in, and it showed.
TECH CORPS’ Computing Career Corps (CCC)
CCC is a 15-week academic-year program where high school students explore programming, web and app development, hardware and software, and problem-solving through hands-on projects. Students also earn Work-Based Learning hours and the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal, helping them build both technical and durable skills for the future. Through career-connected learning experiences like CCC, students build skills, increase confidence, and expand opportunities.
As our conversation continued, Salma shared something that surprised me: she does not want a career in technology.
She wants to be a midwife.
Inspired by her grandmother, Salma has always imagined herself helping mothers and babies, building trust, and supporting families during some of the most important moments of their lives.
At first, technology and midwifery might seem like two completely different paths. But for Salma, the connection was clear.
“The soft skills transfer,” she explained.
Before joining CCC, she said she was impatient and easily frustrated when things did not go the way she expected.
Coding changed that.
“In coding, nothing ever works the first time,” she said.
Through the program, she learned how to slow down, stay patient, and work through problems step by step instead of giving up. She developed stronger problem-solving skills and learned that persistence matters just as much as technical knowledge.
She sees those same skills as essential for becoming a midwife.
Patience. Problem-solving. Work ethic. Communication.
These are the skills that matter in every career.
Salma also pointed out something many students realize through TECH CORPS programs: technology touches everything.
“Every career I can think of involves some type of technology,” she said.
That understanding helped her see why Computing Career Corps made sense for her, even if she is not planning to become a programmer or software engineer. The experience strengthened her confidence in high school and gave her skills she knows she will carry into her future career.
What stayed with me most was how clearly Salma connected what she was learning now to the future she envisions for herself.
She reminded me that our programs are not just about preparing students for technology careers; they are about helping students recognize that the skills they build today can open doors in any path they choose.
At TECH CORPS, we know technology is the tool, but students are the innovators.
For Salma, CCC was not about changing her dream. It was about helping her feel more prepared to reach it.
Computing Career Corps is sponsored by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and administered by the Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services.
