Student Is Hooked on Networking

	Vice President Al Gore with Ricardo Wilson

Ricardo comes from a small family that resides in Queens, New York. His parents provide a modest living for the family and are unable to afford a computer for Ricardo. Ricardo realized his intellectual potential early on and understood that his parents could not provide for a college education, which he knew, was a necessity to be successful in the Internet Economy. It was a hard realization that he would never be able to attend college.

In September 1996 Ricardo arrived at Thomas A. Edison Polytechnic High School and felt frustrated because the only subjects offered were basic curricula. In September 1997, a Cisco Networking Academy was opened at Thomas A. Edison Polytechnic High School. Ricardo observed the students taking the new and interesting class and asked questions about the curriculum. It was a wonderful moment for Ricardo as he listened to a fellow student giving him a quick synopsis of the program. He was immediately hooked on Cisco.

As a junior in high school in 1998, Ricardo registered for the course and had a great deal of success. The Academy, along with his professors, has motivated Ricardo to continue his education and to reach his career goal of being a network engineer.

Ricardo says the Academy program is exciting and diverse-- exactly what he was looking for. He excelled in the Academy program and for the first time had a concrete plan of action for college and his future. He knew he could work part-time while he attended college. Ricardo's determination to overcome economic and social obstacles, coupled with his continuing education, will assure his future success. In November 1999, Ricardo was invited to be a student representative for the Cisco Networking Academy Program at the 21st Century Skills Committee meeting at the White House, where he sat in between Vice President Al Gore and Cisco Chairman, John Morgridge.

Today Ricardo is enrolled at Borough of Manhattan Community College in Manhattan, working towards his A.S. Computer Science degree. In December 2000, Ricardo will test for his Cisco Certified Network Associate certification and hopes to find a part-time job in the networking field to help pay the cost of his college education. After community college, he plans to go to a private university to continue his high-tech education. Ricardo is very confident and feels very much in control of his future now. "Real power comes from knowing you can control your own destiny," he says.