Internship introduces Anoka High School student to world of cybersecurity
(02/26/2021) Connor Rivers says he’s been interested in computers “since forever” but credits his STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) classes for giving his affinity for technology a direction. Rivers is a senior at Anoka High School - Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (AHS), where he is active in the STEAM program.
“I was always interested in computers but didn’t know what to do with that interest. I didn’t really know how to program, how to get started with that,” said Rivers, who first learned to program in his STEAM classes at AHS, “and from there I kinda just took off.”
In the STEAM program, students choose between two learning options during their senior year: an internship experience or a design and development class that centers around a senior project. Rivers decided to pursue an internship. He began by enrolling in a summer technology program, which helped him earn a placement this fall at Target Corporation as a cybersecurity intern. It’s an area of computer science he hadn’t considered until arriving at Target.
“The exciting part is that it is like a new field,” said Rivers. “Some of the people I’m shadowing, they said, ‘if you break into this career, when you get here there might be new teams and new responsibilities that we haven’t thought of yet.’”
Rivers is still considering his options after graduation but has already been accepted into the software engineering program at Dunwoody College of Technology.
“It’s amazing. I feel pretty ready for college, especially with talking with a bunch of people who have already been through that. I feel ready and confident.”
Rivers is also active in Business Professionals of America (BPA) at Anoka, recently earning top honors in the regional competition in several technology-related categories. He will advance to the state competition in March.