TSTC graduate stresses importance of hard work, networking, and valuing oneself

(MARSHALL, Texas) - After his family relocated from Dallas to Longview, Christian Brannon started researching local colleges. He turned to Texas State Technical College's Marshall campus to exercise his love for computers.

"I started off in Cybersecurity," he said. "But in that first semester I was introduced to programming, specifically Python, and that got me hooked on more of the software development side."

Brannon's hard work and networking efforts rewarded him in the workforce after he graduated from TSTC with a degree in Software Development Technology (now Computer Programming Technology) in 2018. He worked to improve his resume until he was hired by aerospace and defense technology company L3Harris Technologies Inc. at its facility in Greenville, Texas.

While attending TSTC, Brannon forged numerous professional connections with people like Phyllis Hollingshead, a master instructor in TSTC's Computer Programming Technology program.

"Networking definitely helped, and being able to rely on some of the teachers postgraduation has also been great because I can always shoot a message and get tips or info or opinions and advice from people like Hollingshead," Brannon said.

Hollingshead said Brannon was a student she will never forget.

"Not only was his work exemplary, he was always on time, friendly, and liked by everyone in the classroom. I never had a doubt that he would be an asset to an employer."

Now Brannon is an award-winning senior software technician at L3Harris, where he has made significant contributions toward its strategic objectives.

"It really is interesting to be working in a field where we're leaning forward into technology," he said.

Computer Programming Technology is one of TSTC's performance-based education programs in which students can move through their training at a flexible pace. The program is offered 100% online.

According to onetonline.org, database administrators earn a median salary of $102,010 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 19% between 2020 and 2030.

Registration for TSTC's fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

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