Cook focused

together during computer maintenance class in first period. He hopes to work in informational technology would force his eyes social outlet and freedom,” Cook nonverbal, Cook for computers he couldn’t convey he was little, he how to fix and build 12, he became family as the “tech

No matter how they didn’t work. wearing his eye started to set in, so focus on his pasgardening and rabbits as a way to routine in his spends about 30 hour a day tending to owns.

Dungeons and friends every about four hours.

“Because of the way my brain works due to my Asperger’s and ADHD, I can just hyper focus on the I.T. work,” Cook said. “It’s always been kind of like second nature to me.”

During his senior year, he has spent three hours a day in Jonathan Nicholson’s computer courses working toward a career in computer maintenance. Through Nicholson’s classes, Cook will receive his CompTIA A+ and TestOut Pro certification. He is preparing to take the certification test on May 30.

“Overall, he does what he’s asked,” Nicholson said. “He tries and he fails and he tries again, then he gets it right. That’s all I can ask for.”

Throughout his life, his passion for computers helped him grow into the person he is today. While he continues to learn more about computers, his love for it continues to flourish.

“Computers was an outlet for him in school,” Malinda said. “He had dyspraxia, so that was a way for him to communicate. He just really thrived on computers.”

He loves the challenges offered by Nicholson’s classes. He hopes to work in Informational Technology while taking classes at Lone Star College in the fall.

“Everyone needs an I.T. guy at some point,” Cook said. “Even your local Taco Bell has a computer after all.”

Despite the many barriers he had to overcome in his life, he made the best of his situation and his parents could not be more proud.

“There is no perfect human. Everybody has to do things differently,” Malinda said. “He is a loyal, kind person that never gives up and keeps on going. All the challenges he has in life, he just continues –which I think is pretty awesome of him.”