It Wasn’t Easy, But It Was Worth It
Title:
My IT Journey
It Wasn’t Easy, But It Was Worth It
From the streets of the Philippines to enterprise systems in the U.S., my IT journey has been one of grit, grace, and growth.
Early Grit
At age 12, I became my family’s breadwinner—selling newspapers at midnight, shining shoes, washing dishes, and doing everything I could to support my parents and five siblings. I didn’t know what “IT” meant back then. But I was already learning to work hard, adapt fast, and never give up.
From Survival to Skill
In 1990, I immigrated to the U.S. I worked midnight shifts, warehouse jobs, and eventually joined a small electronics company—that’s where I got curious about technology. I built and broke my own PCs just to learn how to fix them. I studied books, worked full-time, and taught myself everything I could.
Breakthrough
No one wanted to hire me without experience. So I created my own.
Eventually, USC took a chance on me—and I made the most of it. I supported 900+ users, led data migrations, and found my place in IT.
Entrepreneurial Chapter
In 2001, I launched my own IT consulting company: “Share the Load, Frodo.”
I served law firms, city governments, healthcare clinics—even opened an Internet café and IT training lab in the Philippines. What started as free work turned into global opportunities.
Back to Corporate America
After the 2008 crash, I returned to the corporate world—serving in the financial, healthcare, retail, and religious sectors. From Exchange and VMware to Azure and AWS, I stayed relevant through constant learning.
Where I Am Today
I now serve as an Infrastructure Engineer in Utah.
I document systems, automate with PowerShell, support enterprise infrastructure, and mentor others. I’ve gone from being told “you’re too old for IT” to leading critical infrastructure projects across continents.
“Your beginnings do not define your finish. If you stay humble, keep learning, and don’t stop working—doors will open.”
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