Prairie State is excited to welcome Charles Roth as the Information Technology Intern for the summer!
Charles is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is currently pursuing a degree in cybersecurity with an emphasis in information systems and technology. He will be entering his second semester of senior year this fall at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).
Charles shared that his passion for technology began at a young age. “I’ve always been interested in computers. I have siblings that work in IT, so I was exposed to it at such a young age. I’ve always been curious about all the cool things computers can do.” Charles is excited to gain hands-on experience and learn from professionals within the information technology field as he prepares to graduate this December.
When asked what attracted him to Prairie State, Charles said the company’s role in the energy industry stood out immediately. “I chose Prairie State because energy is a great industry to work in, when it comes to information technology. There are so many factors involved, which are important to understand within the IT infrastructure. I wanted to work at a power plant, and Prairie State seemed like an amazing opportunity to get experience before graduation.”
Throughout his first weeks at Prairie State, Charles has been working on imaging and setting up computers for employees across campus, while also learning about the many different functions within the IT department. He is especially excited about the opportunity to spend time with employees that hold specific positions, from helpdesk and system administration to applications and network operations, to better understand the unique responsibilities within each role.
Charles explained that he is ready to apply what he has learned in school to practical, hands-on work. “It is very different seeing everything I have learned in school or from reading books in a practical sense. Being able to actively apply my knowledge has already developed my skills so much.” As he continues to grow professionally, Charles’ goal for his time here is to strengthen his overall IT knowledge while exploring systems administration more deeply. “I have the base knowledge of this position, but learning from professionals and seeing the skill sets applied has shown me I have a lot more to learn.”
Outside of work and school, Charles enjoys playing video games, working out, and reading in his free time. Looking ahead, Charles plans to pursue a long-term career in cybersecurity or systems administration after graduation.
We’re excited to have Charles here this summer and look forward to seeing all he accomplishes during his internship experience!