One job-shadowing experience and a single conversation with a counselor were all it took for Kaiden Heydt to take a second look at how Northeast Tech could help him reach his career goals.
“I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do after graduating,” said Heydt. “I did know I wanted a career where I could help others and solve problems in a hands-on way. That’s what led me to job shadow the I.T. department at Miami Public Schools. During that experience, I discovered how much I enjoyed the problem-solving process and the technical side of supporting others.”
With his focus narrowed down, Heydt’s next thought was, “How?”
“I spoke with my school counselor about next steps. They explained that NT had an I.T. program that aligned with my interests, and I started researching it more. I was definitely aware of NT before, but I hadn’t taken the time to look into what programs it offered or what opportunities it provided.”
Though Heydt had now missed the opportunity to attend NT in high school, he utilized NT’s 13th Year Scholarship to pay for his tuition as an adult student at the NT Afton Campus.
From August 2023 to December 2024, he completed classes in both the Business Communications and Visual Communications programs.
“The classes definitely focused more on the on-screen side of I.T., so troubleshooting software issues, learning about networks, and understanding how different systems work together,” Heydt said.
In April 2025, Heydt was hired at Northeastern Tribal Health System as an I.T. help desk technician.
“I’m the first point of contact for incoming tickets and phone calls,” he said. “I ensure that all computers, machines, medical equipment and everyday office devices are functioning at their best. I troubleshoot and resolve as much as I can at my level, and if the issue is beyond my scope, I escalate it to the next tier of I.T. support.”
He credits NT for helping him succeed.
“This job has been an incredible opportunity. I’m confident it will only continue to get better as I keep advancing in my career,” Heydt said. “Without the certifications and experience I gained from class, I would have had a much harder time getting this job. If I could change anything about my time at Northeast Tech, I’d only wish I had started there sooner. The skills I learned, both technical and professional, gave me a strong foundation and the confidence to step into the field prepared.”