When a student enters their high school years, they know that it is time to begin deciding on what they are going to do once they graduate. Union High School senior Jeffery Oakes is getting a head start on his post-high school days by attending Tulsa Tech.

“I am taking the Cisco Networking Administration program,” he said. “I chose it because I’m interested in technology and the IT field. I’m not completely sure what path I am going to take after high school, but I’m looking at IT, law enforcement, and/or the military currently but I would like to go to college. At Tulsa Tech, I’m gaining skills I know I can apply to a job straight out of high school. Tulsa Tech has also shown that I’ll need to maintain a higher level of professionalism in whatever I do.”

Oakes said he first heard about Tulsa Tech from a friend of his that was already attending.

“My friend Adam was in the culinary program,” he said. “I looked to see what all programs they offered and the IT ones jumped to me as something I would really like to do.”

As a student at Union, Jeffery is a member of the school’s wrestling team and he has a few people that have helped him get to where he is.

“My coaches Jefferson, Schwartz, and Wright are the biggest influences on me,” he said. “They have helped mold me into the man that I am happy to be today.”

There have been some memorable moments for Oakes on the wrestling mat, but he said that the first win is always a great feeling.

“The highlight moment of my career would have to be when I beat a guy in Bentonville to get my first varsity duel victory,” he recalled. “The bus ride home from that was great because I was pumped. I really enjoy competing because I like the feeling that I get from improving on things I know that I could not do in the past.”

Jeffery has some advice for anyone that cannot decide if Tulsa Tech is right for them.

“I would say give it a shot,” he stated. “It will give you a taste of what ure career path you may want.”