If you had asked Kamia Johnson what her career goals were a few years ago, she’s not sure she would have had much of an answer. She stopped pursuing her data analytics degree to move to Milwaukee and care for a relative, driving with Lyft to support herself — and putting her ambitions on hold. 

But that changed this spring when she received an email from Lyft about Merit America, a low-cost, remote training program that certifies students in IT support, UX design, data analysis, and project management and then helps them find work at tech companies. She applied — and was accepted. 

We caught up with Johnson to find out what it’s like — and what she hopes to achieve once it ends. 

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity. 

Why did you start driving with Lyft?

I had recently been laid off from a medical transportation company. I didn’t have a vehicle, so I took a Lyft ride to a job interview. And the driver was telling me, “You know, you can rent a vehicle [through Lyft’s Express Drive program]! And you can make what you’re making now or probably more.” I love to drive. So I looked into it, put down a deposit for a rental, and I’ve been going ever since. 

I meet some amazing people. And it seems like every weekend, I meet someone that’s in IT, which I’ve always wanted to learn more about. One lady was telling me that there’s such a demand for people in IT and not a lot of women. She was like, “I think you should go for it!” She actually gave me her number.

Tell me about when you learned about Merit America.

I was shooting through my emails, and I saw an opportunity to get an IT certificate in 14 weeks through the Merit America program. It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime chance. So I did all of the assessments, and I passed! 

You had to either pay out of pocket for the program or you had to apply for a loan. I couldn’t pay out of pocket, and I didn’t get approved for the loan. But I was lucky; Merit America actually paid for it. When I enrolled, I shared the news with my family. A couple of them didn’t believe it was real. 

You get assigned a coach, and my coach, Donna, has helped keep me in the program. So far it’s been a lot of work, a lot of dedication, a lot of time management and staying on top of things. But I’m here for it. I asked for it. You know, I prayed over it. And I know it’s going to open more doors for me.

What are you hoping for in a career in IT? 

My hope is to get a position where I can work remotely. Because I do like to travel, and if the opportunity fits, I could take my equipment with me on the road. And even if I do get hired, I would still drive with Lyft because I love it. 

Why do you think a program like this is important? 

I want to thank Lyft for promoting this program to its drivers. It tells you that you don’t have to just stick with us, but you can progress in life, you can do other things, and you can still rely on us. You know, instead of thinking this is it, you have many doors that Lyft is opening for you.