This post marks the beginning of a new chapter for me. For most of my career, I’ve been a graphic designer and brand strategist — and I still am. I currently serve as Creative Director for the Monroe County / Macon Reporter, where I design ads for local businesses. Design has been my foundation since I earned my Art & Design degree. It’s still a huge part of who I am, and I never plan to stop.

But over the past year, I’ve felt a strong pull toward Information Technology. Some of it is practical — I want the stability, pay, and insurance that a career in IT can provide. Some of it is curiosity — I’ve always loved problem-solving, learning new systems, and experimenting with technology. After years of focusing on design, it feels exciting (and a little scary!) to be starting fresh in a new field.

Why IT, and Why Now?

Even though design has been my main career path, technology has always been in the background. Early on, I earned a Diploma in Animation & Multimedia with a concentration in Web Design, which gave me my first taste of coding, digital workflows, and working with technology in a hands-on way. I’ve always been a bit of a geek and loved computers — and as a designer, I’ve naturally leaned into that side of myself through software, digital publishing, and even dabbling in front-end web.

Alongside design, I also studied business, accounting, and healthcare management, completing coursework in Health Information Management Technology (HIMT). That gave me a glimpse into how technology and healthcare intersect — compliance, security, electronic records, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps patient data safe.

Those experiences planted the seed, and now I’m ready to build on them. My long-term goal is to bring together my creative and healthcare background with IT skills — possibly even working in healthcare IT or cybersecurity in the future.

How I’m Getting Started

Like many people pivoting into IT, I’m starting with the CompTIA certifications. My plan is to:

• Begin with A+ to cover the fundamentals of IT support and hardware/software troubleshooting.
• Continue with Network+ to build a strong networking foundation.
• From there, move toward cybersecurity certifications like Security+.

As I go, I’ll be setting up labs to practice, documenting what I learn, and sharing those experiences here. You’ll see a mix of technical posts, personal reflections, and creative side projects — because I’m not leaving art and design behind.

What You Can Expect Here

This new Information Technology blog category will include:

• My lab work and what I’m learning along the way.
• Reflections on being a career-changer moving into IT.
• Connections between healthcare, compliance, and technology (I’ve added my HIMT papers here too, since they fit both categories).
• A little creativity sprinkled in — I want to blend art and tech, not choosing one over the other.

Moving Forward

I’m still very early in this process. Right now, it’s about learning, experimenting, and growing — step by step. I don’t expect it to be easy, but I know it will be worth it.

If you’re also pivoting into IT, curious about healthcare technology, or just interested in following along, welcome! This is the first post documenting my journey into Information Technology, and I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn along the way.