Tim Kinsey

Tim Kinsey has always been drawn to technology. As a middle schooler, he was taking things apart—figuratively and sometimes literally—just to understand how they worked.

But at that age, technology felt like curiosity—not a calling. Like many young people, Tim followed a more traditional path into adulthood, choosing to study education in college. Teaching felt practical, stable, and respectable. Yet as he moved closer to entering the classroom professionally, he began to sense that something wasn’t aligning.

“I ultimately decided not to go into that,” he explains. “After that, I was just kind of jumping around different career paths—different ideas—trying to figure out what I wanted to do, but feeling kind of lost.”

That feeling of drifting without direction stayed with him. Eventually, Tim found steady work bartending full-time. It was honest work, and it paid the bills, but it wasn’t the life he had envisioned long term. The hours were long and mostly at night. 

“When you’re on a completely different schedule from your family, it’s hard. I just felt like I didn’t see them enough. And when you’re raising a kid, that matters. I wanted something with room to grow. I wanted to build something.”

The idea of IT reentered his life through a conversation at home. His wife, recognizing his long-standing interest in technology, began encouraging him to explore it seriously. Other family members echoed the same thought: return to something that had always been there.

Tim began studying independently for the CompTIA A+ certification, widely considered an entry point into the IT field. But self-study proved harder than expected.

Community college classes weren’t an option; night courses weren’t available, and his responsibilities at home made daytime attendance unrealistic. The door felt half-open—but not fully accessible.

Then, an opportunity appeared. A friend spotted a LinkedIn post about Per Scholas and sent it his way. Tim began researching the program and quickly realized it offered exactly what he had been missing: structured instruction, certification preparation, career development, and a direct pathway into the tech workforce.

Still, committing wasn’t easy. The program would take up most of his summer. It would require intense focus and strict attendance. It meant stepping away from what was familiar and predictable.

Before making his decision, Tim called his dad.

“When I told him about it, I said, ‘This feels like too good an opportunity to pass up,’” Tim remembers. “And he stopped me and said, ‘Then you have to do it.’”

Tim was accepted into the IT Support program through the online campus serving North Carolina residents. From the beginning, he noticed the difference between studying alone and being immersed in a structured learning environment.

“My instructor had transitioned into IT himself,” Tim explains. “He wasn’t just teaching from a book—he was sharing what it looks like to change careers and succeed in this field. That made it feel attainable.”

Though the program was fully online, it fostered deep connections among learners. Tim and his cohort created a group chat to stay connected outside of class hours. What began as a place to share notes quickly evolved into a support system.

That sense of community extended beyond academics. The group chat remains active even after graduation, with alumni sharing job leads and encouraging one another. 

Midway through the program, however, Tim faced an unimaginable loss: his father passed away unexpectedly. 

“I had a moment where I had to decide if I was going to keep going,” he says.

Tim found himself surrounded by support.

“The staff was amazing,” he says. “They checked in on me—not just about assignments, but about how I was doing. They made sure I could stay on track while also giving me space to process everything. They were supportive in terms of class content, but also outside of it.”

When asked to describe Per Scholas in one word, Tim doesn’t hesitate.

“Supportive. That’s the word I keep coming back to.”

The technical training prepared him for the field, but Tim credits much of his early career success to the program’s professional development component.

Through mock interviews and coaching sessions, Tim learned how to translate his previous work experience into transferable skills. He learned how to demonstrate curiosity, professionalism, and initiative.

Equally transformative was the accountability built into the program. Showing up at the same time every day. Staying engaged. Keeping pace. That prepares you for a professional environment. It builds habits you carry into your career. 

After graduation, Tim secured a role as a Computer Support Technician I with Henderson County, North Carolina, supporting a wide range of government departments. The position marked not only his entry into IT, but also a turning point in his family’s life.

“The biggest change is my quality of life,” he says. “I’m on a normal schedule now. I get to spend more time with my family. I know what my paycheck will be. That peace of mind—it changes everything.”

The stability he once longed for has become reality. And unlike previous roles, this one offers a clear pathway forward. Tim is now working on his Network+ certification. Within five years, he hopes to advance to a system administrator position. And longer term? He’d love to move into IT leadership. 

When asked what he would say to someone considering Per Scholas or contemplating a leap into tech, his answer is immediate—and heartfelt: “If you’re questioning it, go for it. If it feels outside your comfort zone, that’s probably a sign you should try.”

It’s advice born from experience—from long nights, from uncertainty, from grief, from courage. The opportunity once felt “too good to pass up.”

Tim went for it. And in doing so, he built not just a new career—but a more stable, purposeful future.