My interest in cybersecurity fundamentally stems from a general interest in science and technology. I spend a lot of time thinking about how various technologies function, how they impact our lives and where technological innovation will lead society in the future. Cybersecurity will give me an opportunity to interact with these ideas as they continue to develop and influence our society.

I want to work in an area where learning and intellectual stimulation is constant. Individuals, businesses and governments have fully incorporated networking technologies into essential daily capacity. We have become interconnected in unprecedented ways, and that trend only seems more likely to increase. This means that the threats to those networks are increasingly important with each passing year and continuously evolving. I’m excited to enter a field that will demand from me a consistent level of growth and adaptability. This ensures that I’ll always be able to learn something new, improve myself and grow within my career.

I also want to feel like I’m making a difference. Like I’m providing a valuable service to society. That the work I do matters and can help people. In a cybersecurity role this could mean preventing businesses from sustaining crippling financial losses or protecting vital infrastructure from bad actors seeking to cause harm. This industry will allow me to feel like my work has purpose, which will keep me feeling fulfilled and motivated throughout my career.

Finally, I want a career that is in demand. Cybersecurity is uniquely positioned to offer job security in both the near and long term. There is currently a global and domestic shortage of cybersecurity professionals, providing an excellent market for new workers. Better yet, projections over the next decade see the industry growing rapidly. I feel comfortable knowing that I’m investing in skills that will be coveted for years to come.