Software Engineer, System Administrator
I perform all software engineering, system administration, desktop support, & SCADA HMI development.
Career Roadmap

My work combines:
Day to Day
My day begins with checking email which has reports from the servers on the network. This shows me what Backups failed, system health, server status, and general health of the network. After I am satisfied that things are humming along, I start up the IDE needed for the project I am currently programming and get to work. There are also moments I take to read up on technology news, latest hacking threats, and a game of Freecell or two.
Skills & Qualities Beyond School
Critical thinking skills are a must. There are many disciplines needed to do what I do. Beyond knowing how to program in VB, Java, Python, and Shell, I need to know how to do database administration, networking, Linux and Windows Server administration, and desktop support. Knowledge of accounting was a big plus when the front office billing and payment software was created. Recently, a project was being developed where I had to learn and understand hydrology and how to measure water flow.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Software is moving too quickly to sit on the sidelines and watch. Go out there and take classes, learn new ways to solve problems. There are wonderful online video courses you can use to expand your learning and never be ashamed to ask questions. Times and technology change fast, so be sure to follow the cheese! If you are not familiar with the cheese analogy then be sure to read "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson.