(MARSHALL, Texas) – Despite already being a college graduate, Trenton Patterson began to feel that his major was no longer right for him. When he came across an Instagram post for Texas State Technical College, he enrolled in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program at the Marshall campus.
“I was always interested in how technology worked behind the scenes, and seeing this course here, I figured I could get a good insight into how the technology works and see what it’s like in that career field,” he said.
Patterson said he enjoys being productive at TSTC, a trait he built on in his second semester by becoming a student worker. He can often be found at the front desk of the admissions building or the enrollment office.
“The first college I went to, I was just going to school there, and I didn’t realize there were student worker positions until I was almost done,” he said. “If you’re a college student and you want to have some more money in your pocket, it’s a good idea to apply for a student worker position.”
Patterson said while his classes can be challenging, he takes the time to understand the material. Andrew Christian, a Computer Networking and Systems Administration instructor for TSTC’s Marshall campus, has noticed Patterson’s extra efforts.
“Trenton goes above and beyond in his work,” Christian said. “He consistently puts in hours outside of the lab to understand and complete the material assigned, and his efforts reflect in his outstanding class grades.”
Patterson plans to receive his Associate of Applied Science degree in spring 2026.
“TSTC is not just a college,” he said. “You’re not just going there for school or work. You’re there to learn and have a unique experience. Out of my two college experiences, this has by far been my favorite.”
According to onetonline.org, network and computer systems administrators earn a median salary of $92,360 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 20% between 2020 and 2030.
Computer Networking and Systems Administration is available at TSTC’s Abilene, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses, as well as online. Students can pursue an associate degree, certificates of completion in IT Support Tier 1 and IT Support Tier II, and an advanced technical certificate in Cloud Computing.
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
