Hello everyone, this is Erik Jacob, owner of LevelUp Computers & Technology. It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update (or posted much of anything) to this page, but I have some important information that I wish to share regarding both myself and the future of LevelUp Computers & Technology.
Back in the fifth grade, I successfully performed my very first computer repair. With my parents’ assistance, I reseated a display cable on a netbook that was having issues with the LCD backlight. Throughout middle school, I started tinkering with laptops and other computers that found their way into my home. Most ended up in pieces, but on occasion, I’d get one working again. From there, I got my first proper electronics toolkit, and started fixing computers for family members and their associates throughout my first two years of high school. One job I remember in particular involved removing an astronomical amount of malware and cracking the password on a family coworker’s laptop. That was when my family and friends started encouraging me to offer my services to others. I began pursuing computer repair as a job, and got my CompTIA A+ and IT Fundamentals certifications during my junior year of high school, through my county’s career and tech ed center. The seeds to LevelUp Computers & Technology were being planted, but something needed to happen that would really allow me to grow my business.
Enter 2020. The world goes into lockdown, and everything goes online. Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams serve as conference rooms and classrooms. People who used their computers for little more than email and YouTube were now forced to use their computers as gateways to the outside world. And with more computers in use, more computers were in need of service. Fresh out of high school, and with no drivers license yet, I began offering remote and on-site/at-home service to the local community, with the assistance of my parents, who were gracious enough to transport me to and from clients. To this day, 2020 remains one of my most successful years as an entrepreneur.
While I ended up applying (and working) for another job to ensure a more steady stream of income back in 2021, a good portion of my free time between then and now was spent on LevelUp, going to and from clients’ houses. It was also during this time I faced some of my biggest personal and professional challenges, including an iMac repair that kept me at a client’s house until well past midnight. I was also struggling with doubts over my ability to run my own business. My dad helped me with the finances, but I was handling everything else. These doubts came to a head in early 2023, when I made the decision to attend Frostburg State University on a whim. My goal was to pursue a degree in business management, so that I’d feel more confident in my ability to run a business as a whole. During my first two years at college, I continued serving clients as I was available, whether that was during weekends, Spring/Thanksgiving Breaks, or in between my other job during Summer and Winter Breaks. I also won Carroll’s Best computer repair shop during those years, following an honorable mention win in 2022. This was also happening as I was making the Dean’s List every semester.
And that brings me to today. As I am writing this, I am in between multiple lengthy assignments and mountains of paperwork. I am preparing to study abroad in Tokyo for the duration of my next semester. I am also facilitating transitions in power for two clubs that I currently lead at Frostburg. I have a lot on my plate right now. Some might say it’s too much. What I do know right now, however, is that I have to make a choice. I have to push something to the side until I graduate from Frostburg State University. Unfortunately, that something is going to have to be LevelUp Computers & Technology, my most successful passion project to date.
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that LevelUp Computers & Technology will be temporarily closing until I graduate from Frostburg State University. As I am in the first semester of my Junior year, I am expected to graduate in the spring of 2027. This isn’t a decision I made lightly, but I need to focus on my academics, including my semester abroad.
I want to take the rest of this update to thank anyone and everyone who has supported me. Whether you were there from the beginning, or you reached out to me in recent years, you have all made a difference in my life and pushed me to pursue my passions. LevelUp Computers & Technology wouldn’t be where it is today without any of you. You all have my utmost gratitude. I look forward to reuniting with all of you when the time comes.
Farewell for now,
Erik H. Jacob
Owner, LevelUp Computers & Technology