A Zero-Interest Living Expense Loan Helped Dometrius Start a New Career
Dometrius
CO Pay It Forward Participant
CO Pay It Forward Participant
![Person wearing a light blue collared shirt with dark braids, smiling, and posed against a plain background.](https://socialfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tori-per-scholas.png")
A Living Expense Loan Put Tori on the Path to a Tech Career
Workforce & Education Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility
Impact
Tori was working as a security guard and a professional DJ when she decided it was time for a career change. She was drawn to the tech field, which she had long been passionate about: “I was looking for growth and development—a career where I can use my mind more and my body less,” she reflected.
However, lacking the necessary certifications, Tori struggled to secure a job in tech. An interviewer, impressed by her potential, encouraged her to consider Per Scholas—as an alumnus themselves—as a pathway into the tech industry.
[The Zero Percent Loan] was such a relief—it was one less thing to worry about. It allowed me to concentrate fully on my studies and gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet.Tori, Per Scholas alumna
The short, free course was exactly what Tori needed. Tori participated in the IT Support course at Per Scholas Baltimore. Throughout the course, she benefited from the Zero Percent Loan (ZPL) program, which learners can use to help cover living expenses while they focus on their training. Supported by the Google Career Certificates Program, the loan, Tori shared, was “such a relief—it was one less thing to worry about. It allowed me to concentrate fully on my studies and gave me a cushion so I didn’t have to work constantly to make ends meet.”
After completing the program, Tori secured a job as an IT Support Specialist at a real estate company, where she is now applying her skills and continuing to grow in the tech field. “Per Scholas is the perfect catalyst—it can open the door. The program is incredibly thorough, and you will be prepared. They really care about your success.”