Jonathan Cruz has always been drawn to technology. As a kid, he spent hours tinkering with electronics and exploring how computers worked. But just before high school, an unexpected health crisis knocked him off course. A ruptured appendix sent him to the hospital for a week, forcing him to miss his first day of high school. While his peers were settling into new routines and forming friendships, Jonathan was sidelined by a difficult recovery. Struggling to keep up, he eventually dropped out of school. Jonathan’s parents encouraged him to either get a job or pursue a GED. Jonathan began a GED prep course at Clackamas Community College, and the professor suggested he reach out to C-TEC Youth Services, a program that would change the course of his life.
C-TEC Youth Services, a partnership between Clackamas ESD and Clackamas Community College, supports 14- to 24-year-old youth experiencing barriers to employment or education. C-TEC Youth Services offers support in many forms, from helping young people explore careers and apply for educational opportunities to providing job training and connecting them with the resources they need to overcome challenges and succeed.
Through C-TEC Youth Services, Jonathan connected with career advisor Jennie Young, who quickly recognized his potential.
“After discussing his options for earning a GED and starting college, Jonathan’s eyes lit up as he asked, ‘Wait, you mean I can be 16, start college, and get ahead of my peers?’ At that moment, I knew he had the mindset of a true go-getter.” Jennie recalls.
Jennie worked with Jonathan to create a goal plan, which included encouraging him to join a career development class with C-TEC Youth Services and helping him land an internship at Free Geek, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainably repairing and reusing technology and giving it back to our community’s most vulnerable populations for free or low cost. The internship aligned with his passion and talents, and for the first time, he could see a future doing something he loved.
“I was 16, from Molalla, and had never even taken a bus before,” Jonathan recalls. “Jennie helped me figure out how to commute all the way to the ‘big city.’ That kind of support meant everything.”
Jonathan worked with Jennie at C-TEC Youth Services for nearly two years. In that time, he completed his GED, enrolled at Clackamas Community College, and earned an associate degree in computer engineering. He thrived in CCC’s diverse environment, surrounded by students of all ages and backgrounds. Eventually, he even became a math tutor, stepping into a mentorship role himself to support others like him.
“Jennie gave me what I really needed at the time — a mentor to guide me, help me take responsibility, and move forward,” Jonathan says. “It’s so important for teenagers to have role models outside the family. That external perspective makes a big difference.”
Jonathan went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer and electrical engineering from Portland State University. After graduation, he landed a role as a technical marketing engineer at Intel, traveling the country to present product demos at major conferences.
In May 2025, Jonathan moved to Austin, Texas, with his wife to start the next chapter of his career at National Instruments, a multinational company producing automated test equipment, semiconductors, and virtual instrumentation software.
“Seeing Jonathan go from a student unsure about his future to a leader and engineer at a major tech company has been one of the most meaningful parts of my job,” Jennie says. “In 2019, I reached out to see if any past C-TEC Youth Services participants would be interested in sharing their experiences at a Youth Career Readiness Summit sponsored by Clackamas Workforce Partnership and OregonASK. Jonathan immediately jumped at the opportunity. I was so impressed by his natural ability to speak on a panel alongside another young adult and a moderator. He wasn’t the least bit intimidated, speaking confidently in front of key leaders from important programs in the Clackamas area about all the incredible things he accomplished during his time in our program,” Jennie recalled.
Looking back, Jonathan says every step — especially the difficult ones — was crucial.
“There have been all sorts of challenges along the way,” he says. “I’ve learned to see trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow. If it weren’t for those experiences, and for C-TEC Youth Services, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
C-TEC Youth Services can be life-changing for young people facing barriers to employment or education. But its impact goes beyond individual success stories like Jonathan’s.
“C-TEC Youth Services helps make our whole community stronger,” Jennie explains. “A big part of our funding comes from a federal WIOA grant through Clackamas Workforce Partnership. When we invest in programs like this, we’re helping build a stronger workforce, reduce the need for social services, and create a more hopeful future for everyone.”
