Zaina Rocke

Leaving a steady job without a safety net is a move career advisors would not recommend. But for Zaina Rocke, it was the exact catalyst she needed to break out of her comfort zone, rediscover her potential, and launch a thriving cybersecurity career.

Before making her definitive leap into tech, Zaina spent several years working for the United States Post Office. The job provided stability, but it lacked one critical ingredient: room for upward mobility.

“It got to a point where I felt there was no more room for me to grow while in that role. I was trying to rediscover myself, where my talent and passions align.”

With zero technical background, a side business to run, and no clear Plan B, Zaina felt lost. Then, a bizarre series of coincidences changed her trajectory.

Shortly after quitting her job, Zaina noticed a flyer in her mail listing local professional development opportunities. One name caught her eye: Per Scholas.

Like many people searching for tech training programs online, she was instantly skeptical. “The thought of me receiving no-cost training, I was like, ‘No way, there’s some catch.’ So I left it alone.”

But the universe had other plans. Less than a week later, Zaina was browsing YouTube when an algorithm-recommended video popped up on her screen. It featured a Per Scholas instructor sharing her own story of transitioning from the restaurant industry into tech. Intrigued by the coincidence, Zaina called admissions to get the facts. 

The admissions representative confirmed what seemed too good to be true: the technical instructions, career accelerator support, and certification vouchers were 100% no-cost. 

Zaina passed her interviews and was accepted, only to be placed on a waitlist because the cohort had filled up. A few days later, her phone rang again. A seat had opened up. Zaina didn’t hesitate. She accepted on the spot and stepped into the classroom the next day. 

Stepping into an immersive IT environment with no prior experience is a recipe for instant self-doubt. As the daily influx of technical concepts began, Zaina found herself fighting a mental battle.

“Impostor syndrome hit me, and I started to just feel like I really didn’t belong,” Zaina admits openly. “All those doubts came creeping in. But the staff at Per Scholas, along with my classmates, really supported me and made me feel welcome. Quitting wasn’t an option.”

Zaina credits her instructional team, specifically her technical instructor and professional development coach, for providing the safety net she needed. 

A turning point came when Zaina sat down for her first major exam. Passing her CompTIA A+ certification transformed her mindset from that of an outsider to that of a validated IT professional. 

She added Google IT Fundamentals and multiple Coursera technical milestones to her portfolio shortly after.

Zaina had always harbored a quiet fascination with cybersecurity, though she never imagined she could work in the field. But Per Scholas’ career accelerator model isn’t just about initial placement; it’s built to facilitate continuous upskilling.

Upon graduation, the Per Scholas workforce development team approached Zaina with an exclusive upskilling opportunity: a specialized cybersecurity training pipeline funded via a custom partnership with People Shores and Accenture.

Among her cohort, Zaina was one of only two learners selected to advance to the year-long cybersecurity analyst internship. In a comforting twist of fate, her initial IT support instructor, Keionna Yarborough, was tapped to lead the advanced technical instruction for the enterprise program.

Zaina worked directly on real-world security infrastructure at Accenture while simultaneously studying for elite, mid-tier tech certifications, earning: 

1. CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst)
2. Splunk Core Certified User

Zaina’s hard work yielded the ultimate reward: a permanent, full-time offer as a Cybersecurity Analyst at Accenture, working on the exact enterprise data compliance project she supported during her internship.

“I learned to take on opportunities and do things that really take me out of my comfort zone, because it wasn’t until I started doing that that I really experienced growth.”

Zaina now uses AI tools to consolidate enterprise notes and summarize complex technical frameworks. She is currently studying for her Splunk Power User certification and has gone back to college to earn her bachelor’s degree in information technology, funded by her employer. 

The ultimate proof of her success isn’t just her new salary or her corporate title at a Fortune Global 500 company—it’s the way her journey has inspired her own family.

She tells everyone about Per Scholas and tech. “It led to my sister actually joining Per Scholas and pursuing her AWS Cloud certification! It was life-changing for me, and she got to see my journey. It inspired her to switch her path and focus on IT.”

She also credits Per Scholas for networking and professional development: “My cohort changed my perspective on networking. We became a family, pushed each other through, and built real circles of like-minded people.”

Whether you are starting with zero technical knowledge, like Zaina, or looking to stack advanced cybersecurity certifications, Per Scholas bridges the gap between raw talent and corporate opportunity.