Peyton Brooks

Rewriting the Rules: Peyton’s journey breaking barriers through skilling programs 

A New Beginning in Tech 

Following graduation with her degree in cybersecurity, Peyton, a hardworking mom, soon found herself at a crossroads-facing a barrier when it came to breaking into her chosen field. Through Per Scholas, in collaboration with the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), she found not only critical technical skills but a supportive community that helped her reignite her personal and professional ambitions.  

Rewriting the Rule for Women in Cybersecurity 

Before finding Per Scholas, Peyton was a recent college graduate with a degree in cybersecurity and business management. Even though she spent most of her collegiate career on the dean’s list, she struggled to secure an entry-level cybersecurity job. “Despite it being entry level, they want three years of experience or certain things you don’t acquire whenever you’re fresh out of college,” she said. 

Enrolling in an expensive bootcamp to gain the skills and experience necessary to stand out in the highly competitive job market just wasn’t an option. “The idea of going to a boot camp and paying ten to twenty thousand dollars was just unfeasible for me at the time. Then I came across Per Scholas and was surprised it was free training.” Hopeful and a bit skeptical, Peyton sent in her application and soon realized this opportunity wasn’t too good to be true; it was an actual chance to build practical skills with the financial burden.   

Balancing Motherhood and Professional Dreams 

Peyton took the leap, joining the fast-paced, 15-week Cybersecurity cohort at Per Scholas, combining classroom and online learning. Balancing coursework, while caring for her two-year-old son, added to the challenge, but members of her cohort provided the support she needed to charge the mount. “They took care of us, knowing the pressures we were going through…the only thing they asked for in return was our time,” she recalled.  

Technical training and hands-on labs expedited Peyton’s growth, allowing her to fill the practical experience gap on her resume. “You can read all of the books, you can take all of the tests, know all of the answers but if you don’t have practical application…that’s why they ask if you have professional experience,” she explained. The Cisco Networking Academy became a major contributor to Peyton’s journey. Using Cisco’s Packet Tracer and other NetAcad resources, Peyton found the platform accessible, intuitive, and rich with extra learning tools. “The more resources you have, the more successful you can be as long as you know how to utilize them, right?” she said, spotlighting Cisco’s varying approach to supporting different learning styles.  

Striving for Growth, Embracing New Opportunities

Complete with her new technical skills and a CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst certification, Peyton quickly landed a role as a Junior Security Engineer at a manufacturing company. “My boss told me I wouldn’t have gotten hired if I didn’t have that certification,” she said- crediting Per Scholas and Cisco Networking Academy with opening the doors to opportunity through skilling and certification.  

Even after leaving a company, Peyton remains focused on the future, knowing that her skills, experience, and certifications will help guide her to the next position. She has stayed committed to lifelong learning, completing additional courses through Cisco and actively participating in the NetAcad alumni community. “Sharing your authentic story is a great inspiration for others to take risks and try different things,” she believes. Her focus now is to balance motherhood and a fulfilling career. Currently, she is looking for a flexible or remote role to balance serving the field and her family. “I want to be of service in my discipline but also be able to have that family balance-and that’s what I’m hoping, dreaming, and praying for.” 

Conclusion: 

A story like Peyton’s showcases how success can be reached when determination and opportunity intersect at the right time. With the support and hands-on training she received from Per Scholas and the Cisco Networking Academy, she not only gained valuable industry skills and credentials, but also confidence to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. Now, Peyton has a future-focused mindset as to the next steps in her career, but isn’t losing sight of growth opportunities as both a cybersecurity professional and as a mother. Her journey is a reminder that commitment and community can transform the most challenging paths into meaningful achievements and new beginnings.