November 2020 | Page 67

“ I always had a passion for technology . As a child , I would often take my toys and gaming consoles apart , curious to see how they functioned . As I grew older , I became involved in different areas of technology . Over the years , my driving force has been the loss of my brother to gun violence . Also , being aware of the lack of resources when I was a student and , decades later , still noticing it , currently , for students of color .” – Juan J . Rodriguez

JUAN

RODRIGUEZ

“ My parents bought me a home computer in 1982 , creating the spark that led to my passion for technology and ultimately leading me to Bryant University , where I majored in computer information systems .

JORGE GARCIA

Upon joining the workforce , I quickly realized that a rewarding byproduct of a technology career is the incredible feeling that comes from helping others solve problems . It is this feeling that remains a driving force in my life each and every day .” – Kevin Ricci

“ My curiosity of how things work drove me to technology . Growing up I was less interested in listening to the radio and far more interested in taking it apart to see how it worked . As time passed , software and firmware add layers of complexity and my curiosity grew . The greater my understanding grew , the more my curiosity turned to how I can use this technology to do something that the system was not originally intended to do . This has allowed me to continue to grow and be creative in a seemingly cold and strict occupation . The truth is far vaster and creativity-focused .” – Manuel Lobao ❱❱

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