My sophomore year of high school I was first introduced to cybersecurity. I got an email about a group called AZ Cyber Initiative, which was hosting a cybersecurity boot camp. So, the first thing I did was google what cybersecurity was, saw stock images of stereotypical hackers, and then proceeded to sign up because I thought it seemed cool.
Back in 2021 was AZ Cyber Initiatives’ first-ever cybersecurity boot camp. It was a week-long boot camp where I heard stories and experiences from numerous cybersecurity professionals who pushed how important cybersecurity is to our nation. The speakers seemed intelligent, speaking about things I could not fathom, and impressed me. They had a deep enthusiasm towards what they were doing and a respectable commitment to constantly focus on learning. The instructors, though, were the ones who had the most significant impact on me. They taught cybersecurity fundamentals and different attacks, walking us through how to use programs like John the Ripper to crack passwords. Getting my hands dirty with a Linux terminal and being able to understand how multiple commands could be combined to solve problems got me hooked. After that week, my interests changed, and I knew I wanted to dive deeper into the rabbit hole. I would not have known about cybersecurity if it were not for them.
I spent the next couple of years enjoying building websites, teaching students in the boot camps, and speaking about my experience with AZ Cyber at their events. They later introduced me to certifications and helped me decide to pursue the CompTIA Network+, assisting me with the resources and funds I needed to pass it.
At the moment, I am going to Pima Community College to pursue my associate degree in cybersecurity. Then, I plan to transfer to the University of Arizona to complete a bachelor’s degree in cyber operations. On my own, I am focused on learning about offensive security so I can develop an understanding of how an attacker thinks. How is one supposed to defend when they do not know what they are defending? In that process, I will learn how different protocols function and better understand how different tools work. I plan to compete in CTFs to learn new concepts, and I look forward to the competition.
