Paul Cabrera | BOLDLY, BRIGHTLY
‘So many doors I could open’ at Augustana
Augustana’s Paul Cabrera will graduate with three years experience working as an IT infrastructure analyst at a Fortune 100 company.
“Being able to say, yeah, I work for John Deere catches a lot of people off guard,” said Cabrera, a computer science/communication studies major from Galesburg, Ill.
He also ran track for the Vikings.
“Competing as a DIII athlete has given me the opportunity to do something that I love doing as well as be a part of that team atmosphere, something bigger than myself,” he said.
Obviously Cabrera scores high in both performance and balance — considering his two majors, his commitment to teammates and his job at John Deere. Like many
Augustana students, it’s something he’s learned to do because of the many opportunities and connections he couldn’t turn down when he arrived on campus.
“Once I got here, there were so many doors I could open,” he said. “It was actually a member of the track and field team who helped me get my job at John Deere.”
At John Deere, Cabrera learned the technical skills needed to excel at his current job and advance his career prospects. Running track provided the space to understand the importance of teamwork, which employers value.
“Augustana has given me the opportunity to chase my passions,” he said. ”Being able to do all these things has really helped me discover who I am and what I want to do in life.”