Ruben G. Says the Skills He Learned at UoPeople Helped Him Land a Role at IBM

Born in Texas to a working-class family that instilled in him “important values, and a real sense of wonder,” Ruben G. has had an impressive journey. Today, he works as a System Service representative at IBM and is earning his associate degree in computer science at UoPeople.

Ruben says he has inherited his passion for engineering skills from his father, who leisurely tinkered with computers and engines for hours.

“I had a truly positive upbringing. My mother worked as a secretary and always demonstrated amazing people skills. She has always been organized and inspirational. Both of my parents had such high hopes for me and believed in me. I guess that’s what has helped me in standing my ground in trying times over the last many years. I could dream big because my vision was never dismissed by my parents,” he shares. After graduating high school, Ruben worked as a waiter and kitchen helper for several years but always wanted to study computer science. At that point, college appeared to be a distant dream.

“The biggest issue was affordability,” says Ruben. “The cost of studying in the United States is very high and I didn’t want to end up with a large student debt. One day while following Simone Biles, the Olympian athlete, I found out she was a UoPeople ambassador. I got curious and went straight to the university’s website. I of course wanted to know more about the tuition-free model, and I was mighty blown by the academics associated with the university. Some of them hailed from prestigious schools such as NYU and Harvard. UoPeople being a flexible online university held great hope for me,” he adds.

Ruben believes the flexibility at UoPeople helps him balance both his career and personal life.

“The administration and staff at the university have been very supportive. I recently moved from Texas to NY, they gave me a leave of absence to be able to move. Isn’t that remarkable? I wouldn’t expect a traditional brick-and-mortar university to be so helpful through such major life changes,” he says.

Ruben applied to IBM and got recruited as a System Service representative after enrolling at UoPeople. He says the skills he learned at UoPeople helped him get the job.

“Thanks to University of the People,” says Ruben, “I’ve been able to study something I’m very passionate about: technology and its application in the real world. At IBM, I talk to clients and coordinate repairs on a variety of machines. I also advise clients of preventive maintenance, configuration, operation, and environmental factors that may impact product performance or impair the client’s IT operation.”

His main goal for the future is to be a Data Center Engineer and work on machines that are helping with breakthroughs in medicine, AI, and quantum technologies.

“I want to be able to use my education to advance my career in IT and give back to the community.”

Ruben has made the best use of all opportunities that came his way, and we are immensely proud of his achievements. UoPeople wishes him the best for all his dreams and ambitions.