Ja’Keim Haniah

Ja’Keim Haniah had been working at a bank as a procedure writer — a solid, respectable career — but deep down, he knew he wanted more.

“I’ve always been interested in tech,” Ja’Keim recalls. “I’ve always been that person people call when something breaks. I consider myself tech-savvy. But I didn’t have certifications, and I knew that was holding me back. I wanted to grow, to understand the IT world better, and to eventually move into project management.”

Then came an unexpected layoff. That moment of uncertainty led Ja’Keim to something that would change his life: Per Scholas Charlotte.

“I looked up the website, saw all these stories and testimonies, and thought, ‘I don’t know if this is real, but let me just apply and see what happens.’”

When Ja’Keim joined Per Scholas, he was still adjusting to life after the layoff. On top of that, he was managing his health as a disabled veteran, and the program’s rigorous attendance and full-day schedule made him wonder if he could keep up.

“I hadn’t been in school for years,” he admits. “And when I had been, it was all self-paced and remote. So going into an in-person, 9-to-5 program was intimidating. On top of that, I was dealing with medical appointments and a lot of life changes.”

That’s when the Per Scholas team stepped in.

“From day one, they treated me like a person — not just a learner,” he says. “They listened and helped me create a plan. The professional development team ensured that I could balance my personal obligations while still staying on track. They told me, ‘As long as you’re willing to put in the work, we’ll meet you halfway.’ That meant everything.”

And Ja’Keim did put in the work. The long hours, the labs, the group projects — it wasn’t easy. But slowly, his confidence grew.

“The workload was intense,” he laughs. “But every week I saw myself improving — not just technically, but personally. I was reconnecting with a part of myself that believed I could learn new things, that I could grow again.”

Ja’Keim’s favorite part of the experience? The people.

“Being surrounded by classmates from all different backgrounds, all focused on the same goal… that was powerful,” he says. “It gave me energy every day. We lifted each other up.”

But the biggest breakthrough came through Per Scholas’s professional development course. Through exercises and coaching, he discovered something deeper — the confidence to own his story. 

They taught him to advocate for himself. That self-assurance paid off quickly. Before Ja’Keim even finished the program, he landed a role as a Learning Design & Development Intermediate Analyst at Citibank

“I actually didn’t tell anyone at first,” he laughs. “I was worried they’d say I had to drop out. But they said, ‘‘Why are you hiding that? This is the program’s key point! We’ll make it work.’”

And they did. Per Scholas worked with Ja’Keim to ensure he could complete his training, take his exams, and start his new job simultaneously. 

That first role after Per Scholas opened many doors that Ja’Keim never thought possible. 

“It was a more technical version of what I’d been doing,” he says. “Because of Per Scholas, I understood IT terms and systems better. I could communicate more clearly with software developers, speak their language, and add real value.”

That success led to something even greater — a director-level position with Trimont, where he now leads process documentation and helps implement new AI-driven systems of record.

“I feel like I’m in a role that challenges me and excites me,” he says. “I’m happy to go into the office, collaborate, and solve problems. For the first time in a while, I love what I do.”

Per Scholas, he says, gave him more than skills — it gave him options.

“Before, I felt boxed in,” he explains. “Now I know I can move into agile project management, AI, or anywhere else I want. I’m no longer trapped in one career path. I have freedom.”

For Ja’Keim, that freedom wouldn’t have been possible without another key piece of support: the Per Scholas Zero Percent Loan. 

“When I first heard about it, I thought it was too good to be true,” he laughs. But it was real, and it was crucial.

The loan helped him stay afloat, cover bills, and give him breathing room to focus on training. Now, he encourages its benefits without hesitation.

“You only start paying it back once you’re earning, it’s zero interest, and it’s an investment in yourself.’ Compared to traditional learning loans, it’s a blessing.”

As a veteran, Ja’Keim also wants others who served to know how valuable Per Scholas can be: “Veterans have access to resources like the GI Bill, but what’s great about Per Scholas is it doesn’t use that up,” he explains. “You can save those benefits for your kids or future plans, and still get into tech training right now, for no cost.”

He also found a special level of understanding and care in the Charlotte campus team.

“The director there is a Marine veteran,” Ja’Keim says. “He gets it: the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life. The team even helped connect me to resources through the VA and beyond. That kind of support is rare.”

Today, Ja’Keim is thriving — confident, focused, and proud of how far he’s come. He’s now pursuing project management certifications, including the Google Project Management certificate and eventually the PMP, with dreams of moving into agile leadership.

His advice for anyone considering Per Scholas is simple but heartfelt: “Make sure you’re ready to commit. It’s not easy, but it’s worth every bit of effort. Take advantage of the resources while you can. It’s no-cost, it’s high-quality, and it changes lives.”

Per Scholas didn’t just give him technical knowledge. It gave confidence, a sense of community, and direction. It reminded Ja’Keim that he can do hard things and come out stronger on the other side.