Metallica Scholar: Deidra Tanks

Deidra Tanks is a City of Augusta, GA employee who enrolled in and completed the CompTIA Network+ course at Aiken Technical College in fall 2023. She enrolled in the course to earn certifications to complement her recently earned bachelor’s degree.

Tell us about your experience as a Metallica Scholar.

I had no idea where the funding was coming from, but I am grateful for the Metallica Scholars. They allowed me to be able to take these courses and not have to take out additional funding. This has been an awesome experience.

Tell us what you were doing in life before you made the decision to go to school.

The whole IT thing is new to me. I work for the City of Augusta. I called, and they were offering this program, I filled out the paperwork and came to the class. I just graduated with my bachelor's, so I have an educational background; I just need the certifications to do the job.

What do you think of your future?

I picked I.T. because, without it, there won't be one; everything you see on the news right now with artificial intelligence- we are going to have to be the ones to program this artificial intelligence. I want to be apart of that system to be able to stay employed.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of finishing school (University of Phoenix) at almost 50. My children are my inspiration, they are in college, so I told them if I can do it and work a full-time job, then clearly you can too.

If you could tell the band (Metallica) “thanks” how would you say it?

Thank you I appreciate this. It is awesome to be able to do something I feel will be productive and I will be able to give back in the future.