My cybersecurity journey had a weird start. It came from a video game called Overwatch. I originally wanted to go into game design because I loved gaming, but after making a few games, I found out it was not for me. However, I did love programming and bug fixing with game design. So, I started looking for a better language for a beginner and found Python. After making a few projects, I started googling what I could do with Python, and with that one search, I fell in love with cybersecurity. I did a few projects and started tinkering with different languages that can help with cybersecurity, like batch and PowerShell. Recently, I took a course on PowerShell to help me automate security jobs. I might not be good now, but I will improve with time. Hopefully, this course will help me understand other parts of cybersecurity that I might have forgotten or skipped by mistake.
However, I proved that cybersecurity was for me by getting CompTIA certifications. I currently have four: ITF+, A+, NET+, and SEC+. I first got my ITF+ after my school paid for it. Then I finished my A+ second part of my A+ after that. Next, my school paid for my NET+.
Additionally, I was a test pilot to see if the school should offer those paid-for certifications. My group had a 100% pass rate for the ITF+ but a meager pass rate for the NET+. I started a study group with two others; we were the only three to pass out of around 13 people. Furthermore, it showed me I could study the material, help other students understand it, and pass an exam. That further pushed my cybersecurity confidence.
Another reason was talking to people in the field of cybersecurity. I could have conversations with them, and I started to learn the business aspect of cybersecurity, not just the technical details.
To bring everything together. It started with playing a game and then moved to making games, finding out that I did not like it but enjoyed the programming aspect, researching, building, failing, trying again, certifications, and finally, talking with people.