NCCC Success Story

Where are you from?
I am from Cream Ridge, New Jersey.

What is your degree program?
I am pursuing an Associate Degree in Applied Science with a major in Applied Computer Technology at RIT/NTID. I graduated in May 2025.

What is your primary communication style – ASL, spoken English, both, or another language?
My primary communication style is spoken and written English.

Tell us the date of your co-op/internship, your position title, and the company you worked for.
From February to June 2025, I completed an IT Internship with the Upper Freehold Regional School District in Allentown, New Jersey.

What was your role and what kinds of projects or tasks did you work on during your co-op/internship?
During my internship, I supported the IT Department in various ways. I troubleshot IT issues for staff, administrators, and students, and I monitored systems while engaging in data backup and recovery. I also repaired Chromebook parts such as frames, motherboards, and monitor screens. Additionally, I collaborated with the Network IT Staff on Chromebook software issues and worked directly with the Superintendent on the District’s new website.

How did your experience at RIT/NTID prepare you for this job?
Courses such as ACT Technical Capstone (NACT-295) and NACT-200 were especially helpful in preparing me for this role. They taught me how to provide effective IT support and apply technical knowledge in real-world settings.

How did you communicate with your coworkers and supervisors?
I am hard of hearing and use bilateral cochlear implants. At work, I communicated with my coworkers and supervisors through spoken English. To ensure I could hear clearly, I made sure to look at people’s faces and read their lips when possible.

What communication tools or accommodations helped you do your best work?
I always used captioning when it was available, or talk-to-text when it was not. If I did not understand what someone said, I asked them to repeat themselves to ensure clear communication.

What advice would you give to other deaf and hard-of-hearing students preparing for their first co-op or internship?
I would advise other students to listen carefully to their supervisors and take in what they teach, as you can often learn more from hands-on experience than from online resources or classes. It’s also important to stay open-minded, greet people, and get to know your coworkers. Finally, I recommend documenting what you learn so you can share that knowledge and help support others in the future.