Henry Luong

Henry Luong graduated as the valedictorian of his Pittsburgh IT Support cohort in 2021. He had been interested in tech since he was a young child, figuring out how to install more RAM on his family’s PC in order to play a game. Henry briefly studied video game design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, but became disillusioned and dropped out after seeing the poor working conditions in the video game industry. 

After leaving school, he worked in retail and did freelance tech work by helping friends build and troubleshoot their computers. When the pandemic hit, Henry was laid off, and after some reflection, he realized that he was pretty good at tech and figured that with the proper skills, he could potentially make a career out of it.

Henry joined Per Scholas in order to get formal training that would help him get his foot in the door in the tech industry. He really enjoyed being back in a class setting after many years away and thrived in the rich learning environment. “The teachers were super knowledgeable, very friendly, and helpful if you had any questions,” Henry recalled.

Henry landed a tech role shortly after graduating with help from Per Scholas partner, TEKsystems. He plans to continue learning and growing in the tech field as he pursues his passion for amateur board game design. “I am so thankful for this opportunity to get my life back together,” Henry reflected on his experience at Per Scholas. “It’s nice to know that I’ve found something I enjoy to do that still lets me spend time with my friends and family and loved ones. Thanks to Per Scholas for giving me the opportunity to have financial stability.”