Introduction

My name is Jordan Vargas, and I am currently finishing my degree in Cybersecurity at Old Dominion University. My interest in technology and cybersecurity has grown a lot throughout college, especially after switching from Computer Science and finding an area of technology that I connected with more. I’ve always enjoyed working with computers, building PCs, and playing PC games, so technology has been something I’ve been interested in for a long time. It just took some time to figure out which part of technology I wanted to turn into a career.

What interests me most about cybersecurity is how many different areas there are to explore. Throughout my time at ODU, I’ve become especially interested in topics like Cyber Law and Digital Forensics. I like learning about how technology connects to real-world situations and how cybersecurity can be used to protect people, organizations, and important information. I also enjoy the problem-solving side of technology and the fact that cybersecurity is always changing, which means there’s always something new to learn.

Outside of school, I currently work as a manager at Zumiez. Working there has helped me develop skills that I believe will carry over into my future career, especially communication, leadership, problem-solving, and working with different types of people. While retail management is pretty different from cybersecurity, being responsible for helping run a store and handling situations as they come up has taught me how to stay organized, adapt, and figure things out when plans don’t go as expected.

As I get closer to graduation, I’m excited to take what I’ve learned in school and start applying it in a professional environment. I’m interested in eventually finding a remote position or working in the government. My goal is to keep learning, gain experience, and find an area within cybersecurity where I can build a long-term career.

Key Experiences That Shaped My Path

One of the biggest influences on my decision to pursue cybersecurity was actually my older brother. During COVID, he moved back in with my family, and I got to see firsthand what he was doing with his career and education. I remember watching him study and work toward different certifications. Seeing the time and effort he put into learning new things really inspired me and got me thinking more seriously about my own future.

Before that, I was pursuing Computer Science. While I enjoyed technology, I eventually realized that Computer Science wasn’t exactly the path I wanted to continue down. Watching my brother work toward his certifications and seeing how many opportunities there were in cybersecurity made me look more closely at the field. It showed me that there were other ways to build a career in technology besides programming and software development.

Switching from Computer Science to Cybersecurity ended up being one of the better decisions I’ve made during college. Once I started taking cybersecurity courses, I found topics that interested me more and made me excited about what I was learning. I especially became interested in Cyber Law and Digital Forensics. Those subjects showed me that cybersecurity is about more than just computers and hacking. There are legal, investigative, and human sides to the field that are just as important.

Another thing that helped shape my interests was my personal interest in computers and PC gaming. I’ve always enjoyed building PCs, learning about computer hardware, and playing games on PC. Building computers helped me become more comfortable with technology and made me curious about how different systems work together. Even though gaming and cybersecurity are pretty different, my interest in computers started there and eventually grew into wanting to understand technology on a deeper level.

My current job at Zumiez has also played an important role in my development. As a manager, I’ve learned how to work with different people, handle problems, and take on responsibilities that affect more than just myself. Unexpected situations come up all the time, and I’ve learned the importance of staying calm and figuring out the best way to handle them. I think those experiences will help me in cybersecurity because technical knowledge is important, but being able to communicate, work with others, and think through problems is just as valuable.

What I Learned Along the Way

One of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout college is that it’s okay when your original plan changes. When I first started college, I was pursuing Computer Science because I knew I enjoyed technology and thought that was the direction I wanted to go. Eventually, though, I realized that enjoying technology doesn’t mean there’s only one career path available to me.

Switching to Cybersecurity taught me that finding the right career sometimes means exploring different options and figuring out what actually interests you. Seeing my brother work toward his certifications also helped me understand that learning doesn’t stop after school. Technology is constantly changing, especially in cybersecurity, so continuing to learn and improve my skills will always be important.

I’ve also learned a lot about problem-solving and adaptability. Through school, work, and my own experiences with technology, I’ve realized that things don’t always work the first time. Sometimes you have to troubleshoot an issue, research different solutions, and be willing to try something new. Whether I’m building a PC, working through a difficult assignment, or handling a problem at work, I’ve learned to be more patient and not give up just because something gets frustrating.

Working as a manager has also helped me become more confident when communicating with people. Cybersecurity is often thought of as a very technical field, but communication is still extremely important. Being able to explain problems, work with a team, and handle different situations are skills that can apply to almost any career. My job has given me experience dealing with people in different situations and taught me the importance of being responsible, dependable, and willing to step up when needed.

Overall, these experiences have helped me realize that my career doesn’t have to follow one exact path. There are a lot of different directions I can take within cybersecurity, and I’m still figuring out which areas interest me the most. Right now, I want to continue exploring Cyber Law, Digital Forensics, and other areas of cybersecurity while gaining more hands-on experience.

Where I Am Headed

As I get closer to graduating from Old Dominion University, my main goal is to keep building my knowledge and gaining experience in cybersecurity. After graduation, I plan to work toward additional certifications that can strengthen my technical skills and help me become a stronger candidate when applying for jobs.

One of my biggest goals is to eventually find a cybersecurity or technology-related position that allows me to work remotely. I like the flexibility that remote work can offer, and I think it would be a good fit for the type of career I want. I’m also very interested in government work. Cybersecurity plays an important role in government organizations, and working in that environment is something I’d definitely like to explore.

At the same time, I’m open to seeing where my career takes me. Since I currently work at Zumiez as a manager, I’ve also considered eventually pursuing a corporate or home office position with the company. My experience working at Zumiez has given me a better understanding of how things operate at the store level, so moving into a technology-related role within the company could be another interesting opportunity.

Right now, I don’t have every detail of my future completely planned out, and I think that’s okay. My main focus is graduating, continuing to learn through certifications, and getting my foot in the door in the technology or cybersecurity field. From there, I want to gain experience, build my skills, and figure out which areas I enjoy the most.

Looking back, it’s interesting to see how much my path has changed. I started out in Computer Science, but seeing my brother work toward his certifications during COVID helped inspire me to take a different direction. That decision eventually led me to Cybersecurity, where I found subjects that interested me more and gave me a better idea of the kind of career I want to pursue.

Moving forward, I want to keep learning and building on the skills I’ve developed through college, work, and my personal interest in technology. Whether I end up working remotely, for the government, or eventually in a corporate technology role, my goal is to find a career where I can continue growing, take on new challenges, and do something I genuinely enjoy.