“Never Give Up”: How a Cybersecurity Course Gave Kirk New Life 

Kirk Northrup was working as a security guard on the Las Vegas strip when the anxiety attacks first began.

“It was something I just couldn't control,” he said. “I could be fine for years and one day I would just have a panic attack.”

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kirk and his family moved to Macon, Georgia, when he was 16. After graduating high school, he decided to get a job instead of going to college. 

He tried to pursue a career in law enforcement and then in pharmacy. Both times he was thwarted by the cost of certifications. Kirk eventually found a job at Loomis, the cash-handling company. But during the pandemic, he was laid off.  

With few options, he moved to Las Vegas for a job opportunity. His grandmother had recently died, and he was looking for a fresh start. But the intensity of working security on the strip triggered the panic attacks. 

Doctors told him he was suffering severe stress and that he needed to take some time to care for himself. So he moved back to Georgia to live with his family. 

A Fork in the Road 

Kirk was at a crossroads. His anxiety was still high, he had no idea what he wanted to do vocationally, and he was still coming to grips with his grandmother’s death. That’s when he learned about City of Refuge’s Tech Transformation Academy. 

By God’s grace, Kirk grabbed the last spot available in a months-long cybersecurity class. Though he was initially nervous, he showed an enormous amount of grit and perseverance. 

“I stuck with it. I networked. I prayed. I dealt with my anxiety and learned how to heal by being around people who spoke a lot about God and faith.” 

After graduating, Kirk had the opportunity to participate in Microsoft's Accelerate: Atlanta, a course that bolstered his tech skills and experience even more. 

Eventually, he applied to be an Analyst Compliance Engineer at ICE, a global tech company. When the offer finally came through, he immediately burst into tears. 

“​​I go to work every day looking up and saying, ‘Lord, thank you for your providing hand.’”

When asked what he would say to others who might be hesitant to take a job training course at City of Refuge, Kirk encouraged them to take a step of faith. 

“That was me. I was nervous. I was scared. I was waking up in the middle of the night with anxiety thinking about things in my life. All it takes is a step forward. Just trust in God. And I guarantee he will guide you. He'll never leave you…Never give up.”

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To learn more about City of Refuge’s Job Training courses, visit cityofrefugeatl.org/job-training.