2018-Jun-26

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Olympic Victories Aren’t Just for Athletes

For many people in the world, a job in IT can mean the difference between economic hardship and a comfortable life for them and their families. A little help and a big opportunity can go a long way.

Growing up without much money in the Ricardo de Albuquerque neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Edna Félix didn’t have a computer at home. When she was 11, she begged her mom to let her sign up for a basic computer course. Then in 2016 with a scholarship and some money from her grandmother, Edna enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy and loved every second of it.

From that moment on, Edna was hooked and knew that she wanted to pursue a career in technology. Though she was already working part time and studying hard, Edna saw the opportunity to improve her own future and offer her family a better life.

“All you want, you achieve with education, studying, applying yourself, looking for opportunities, chasing your goals,” Edna said. “Because the opportunities are there, you just have to reach for it, you just have to catch the opportunity because they are there."

Edna and her mother and brother in their Rio neighborhood.

As a college student, Edna lived with her mother and her brother, David, in the home where she grew up. Her father passed away when she was teenager, and even before his death, there were financial challenges. After he died, Edna’s mother was never able to find work. For years, David and Edna worked to help pay the family bills.

When Edna finished the Networking Academy course, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity loomed in the distance: the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As Cisco was an Official Supporter of the Games, Edna was hired to work on the technical team for NBA House, one of the many brand demonstrations at the Olympics. There Edna put her training to work, maintaining the network for one of the most popular high bandwidth exhibits in Rio.

Enda’s gold-winning smile at the NBA House.

Working with our equipment at the Olympics.

Because of the strength of her Networking Academy training and the experience at NBA House, Edna was hired by Cisco Brazil at the conclusion of the Games, where she continues to work and build her career today.

For decades, the Cisco Networking Academy program has empowered people to pursue their dreams through IT and career training. Through hard work, perseverance and incredible determination, more than 8 million students from all over the world from all types of economic, geographic and cultural backgrounds have taken advantage of the opportunities presented to them through this program to better themselves and their futures.

Read more stories from Networking Academy students and how we’ve changed their lives, and share the love on social media.

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