Hello and welcome to my E-Portfolio, my name is Jasprit Kaur. I am a Virginia Beach native and study at Old Dominion University. Throughout my time at ODU I have completed a Bachelors of Science in Cybersecurity and plan to pursue a career in cybersecurity or information technology. My passions include ethical hacking, risk management, and community service.
Throughout my academic career, I have often measured my successes and progress through short-term goals, completion of assignments, and progression to the ascending grade level. This model served well up until my later high school years, where I was faced with the daunting task of selecting an appropriate and fulfilling college major. Despite my long-term comfort and accomplishment within academic spaces, I found myself at a crossroads, which only deepened at the arrival of my senior year. A decision made in haste and youthful anxiety turned into something I could never imagine, and within this essay, I will reflect upon my time and experiences at Old Dominion University, as well as the events that shaped me into the academic that I am today.
Early University Years
My initial few years at ODU, chiefly my freshman and sophomore years, were filled with apprehension regarding my chosen major, cybersecurity. Being faced with a constant barrage of new concepts, terminologies, systems, and expectations made the adjustment difficult and taxing. I had no initial pull to the discipline, and I’d naively chosen between three possible fields: accounting, computer science, and cybersecurity. During my senior year in high school and in the midst of my panic of trying to figure out what I’d do with the rest of my life, I enrolled in an AP computer science course on a recommendation from my sister. The first few weeks of the class were eye-opening as I discovered the many possibilities and applications of computer science, many of which were in line with my artistic passions. Unfortunately, as the course progressed, I became increasingly challenged by the topics being presented and found myself unable to acclimate to the concepts, which were quite foreign to me at the time. Panic mounted upon the discovery that I was not built for a computer science career, no matter how lucrative or exciting it appeared to be. In the face of distress, I balked, and backtracked my future major aspirations and began planning for a different route, as well as a seventeen-year-old could. Following a meeting with an ODU admissions counselor, I was introduced to the world and possibilities of cybersecurity. Like many other teenagers, my only brushes with the discipline came from sensationalized action movies and hacking sequences, so of course, my interest was piqued. Soon after graduation, I transitioned into college life, though as a commuter, I was saddled with the unfortunate reality of commuting and how exhausting the almost daily drives can be. At this point, I was thrust headlong into introductory cyber courses, many of which took the top-down approach when explaining cyber concepts. As I’d always been, I continued being a good student, taking notes, being diligent in class, and even maintaining near-perfect attendance. Unfortunately, my efforts were not enough to establish familiarity with the field, at least not yet. Despite the high caliber of effort I would pour into my studies, there were many aspects of cybersecurity that continued to elude me, and with the majority of cyber courses being offered online, I often found myself taking my education into my own hands. Constant Google searches, along with YouTube videos, dominated my time after classes, thankfully I was dedicated to making it work! I finished out my freshman year in a confused stupor and anxiously awaited what the next semesters would bring. Staying on theme, the Fall 2023 semester continued with the same nauseating fervor, the same one that had been questioning my decision to ever major in cybersecurity in the first place. A break came in the form of CYSE 270, or Linux for Cybersecurity. This course, as the name suggests, was focused on teaching introductory Linux techniques, scripting, and how to interact with different Linux distributions. At first, the technical nature of the class was quite daunting; I spent many days on Rate My Professor to find a professor who would be able to teach a complete beginner such as myself without losing their patience. Dr.Shobha Vatsa may have been one of the only instructors offering the course, but she was also the best instructor for the job. Through her instruction, I was able to confidently acclimate myself to a Linux environment and the many quirks that come with it. This breakthrough, though minimal to some, was the push that I needed to confirm that I could pursue an education in this field.
Later University Years
With the bulk of my anxieties easing, I was able to complete an uneventful junior year, earning a 4.0 GPA. Unfortunately, though, I would soon be faced with a challenge that I alone could not overcome, endeavoring to secure an internship. In order to graduate as a cybersecurity major, ODU requires undergraduate students to complete an internship as part of the curriculum. Once again, I was out of my depth and struggling for purchase, but thankfully, I was able to secure an internship at the ODU cyber clinic. On recommendation from my advisor, I decided to sign up for the Fall 2025 cohort, to which I was soon accepted. Working alongside my fellow cybersecurity majors, I felt that I was truly able to envision myself working in the cybersecurity field in the foreseeable future. Through the clinic’s guidance, support from guest instructors, and rigorous workload, I emerged as a more confident student primed for the workforce. Numerous guest instructors showed me the diversity of cybersecurity and paths, and how non-linear a professional’s career can be. The clinic was unique in that it followed a group work model, where students would be assigned working groups near the beginning of the semester and be expected to deliver a completed project as a collective. Typically, I despise group projects and collaboration, and I was left feeling scared and out of place. Soon, I learned that growth truly does occur when one is thrust out of their comfort zone, and I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to the work ahead. My team worked like a well-oiled machine, and we were able to produce a project that went above and beyond expectations, all the while rallying each other to the best of our abilities. Beyond the valuable hands-on cybersecurity experience that I received, I also learned the importance of teamwork and camaraderie. Furthermore, whilst collaborating with local businesses in Hampton Roads as part of the internship, I deepened my appreciation and love for the 757 community. I worked throughout the entire duration of my degree, but was never able to interact with local businesses in the way that I was able to during my time at the cyber clinic.
Conclusion
I began my college career the same way that most adolescents do, scared and unsure of my future, all the while second-guessing every decision I made along the way. The rewards could not have been greater, I now realize. I am set to graduate this semester, immensely proud of the younger version of myself that pushed through the difficult times and long-standing anxieties to get to where I am today. In the present day, I am gearing up to take my first cybersecurity certification test, the CompTIA Security+ certification. My progression in the future may not always be linear, but I know that with enough dedication and determination, I can achieve any task placed before me.