“Learning is fun. I love to learn. I’m very enthusiastic when it comes to my education. My mom’s an immigrant from Jamaica, and she always told me that I need to get my education. It’s embedded in my head! I want to go to college. I want to do this.”
Starting with Python
Zamijah’s first exposure to IT education came early. Her fascination with how computers worked led to learning to code. “I was learning Python maybe as early as sixth grade,” she says.
When she started to choose courses in high school, focusing on IT seemed an obvious choice. “I had a talent for computers and technology,” she says. “Computer science was just tugging at me. I really do adore computer science.”
After taking a summer-school course at Camden Dream Center aimed at literacy, exploring science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as encouraging “positive attitudes toward learning,” Zamijah returned as a 14 year-old to help teach the younger students.
“I got the third through fifth-graders,” she says. “I was a fanatic for Python at the time, and I wanted to show off Python, and I gave a presentation on Python and everyone was amazed.”
From there she was asked to work two hours a week on Saturdays teaching Python to the Camden Dream Center students.
Introduction to Cybersecurity
In her sophomore year at high school, Zamijah took a cybersecurity class, and it struck a chord. “The class was challenging, but once you got it, you got it. Doing the things we did—detecting bad code and malware, everything we learned, I was like I want to do this.”
Zamijah also got involved with the Air Force Association CyberPatriot Program, further adding to her interest in the field.
“Anytime I tell someone why I want to get into cybersecurity, it’s because I have always had a fascination for essential workers, people who help people…working in cybersecurity I’d feel like that sort of person, like I’m helping people. My job is to protect people.”
For her final two years in high school Zamijah had the opportunity to embark on a program that earned her an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts at Camden County College.
“I studied Computer Science my first two years [in high school], and in my freshman year I found out about the ECAD program—Early College Associates’ Degree. I’m in the first class to graduate from there.”
Lessons learned
The change to the new campus and the workload proved a challenge, however. Between a time-consuming commute, and going straight from school to her department-store job, there was little time left for homework, and her grades started to suffer. “That year I ended Physics with a D, and that’s the first D I’ve ever gotten in my life.”
And because the ECAD program had minimum grade requirements, the pressure was on to improve. “Getting that D woke me up. I wasn’t working for my senior year, and it has been one of my best years ever in school. I ended with all As. Going from Junior year and bouncing right back just made this year the best.”
That hard work has paid off in other ways too, with a full scholarship to Grinnell College in Iowa to study Computer Science.
“I’ve taken probably 50 virtual tours. I really feel a connection with the school and I haven’t set foot on it yet,” she says.
Enthusiasm for learning
“I’m very enthusiastic when it comes to my education. My mom’s an immigrant from Jamaica, and she always told me that I need to get my education. It’s embedded in my head! I want to go to college. I want to do this.”
Before going to college, Zamijah plans to spend the summer working at Camden Dream Center’s Freedom Schools program, and on another program at a different center teaching robotics. “Over summer I’ll be working with kids, kids, and more kids,” she jokes.
Passing her enthusiasm for learning on to younger students is exactly what Zamijah means when she says she wants to help people.
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