Queens veteran makes leap from student to teacher at school for disabled students

Aaron Yi of Flushing became the first person at the AbilITy Cisco Academy to make the switch from student to teacher. Photo courtesy of Yi

By Jacob Kaye

An Army veteran from Queens became the first person to make the switch from student to teacher at the Institute for Career Development's AbilITy Cisco Academy, which teaches disabled students how to make it in the tech world.

Aaron Yi, who was born and raised in Flushing, graduated from the program, which was founded in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, in May and began as a teacher’s assistant in June. He’s the first student to make the leap in the academy’s history.

“The transition from student to teaching assistant is refreshing and enjoyable,” Yi said. “I’m now able to better cater to the students’ lessons and help them understand better. I know the certification course that they are taking, and what will be on it and how hard it is and I know what to put, what to emphasize and what to have them keep up with.”

Yi, who became physically disabled during combat training in the Army, became interested in working in the computer technology world while serving. Prior to entering the military, Yi earned his associate’s degree at LaGuardia Community College. He attended classes at Queens College in the months leading up to the pandemic, but made the switch to the IT school when classes went remote.

He said that the Cisco Academy’s individualized teaching style is greatly appreciated by the students, who may not have been able to find a curriculum designed exclusively for students with disabilities prior to attending the tech school.

“Though I do not have a cognitive disability, when I was taking the course, I was working with people that had cognitive disabilities,” Yi said. “I am now, as a teaching assistant, helping those with cognitive disabilities. The lesson plans are more thoroughly examined and laid out for those that have a harder time keeping up and we're able to cater to the pace.”

While he plans to continue to teach at the academy, he’s also looking to open his own tech business at some point in the near future.

“I’m continuing my education in Queens College, changing my major from computer science to business so that I can look into opening a company or some sort of business in the field,” Yi said.

Yi said that much of what he’s learned at the tech academy and what he now teaches to students is similar to the values he learned in the Army.

“Selfless service and leaving no man left behind in terms of learning or lessons. Those values are what keeps me going,” Yi said. “That really resonated with me.”