With each year that passes by, America as a nation becomes more and more dependent on technology. While computers, smart phones, and other advanced forms of technology certainly have many benefits, they also have their risks and dangers. Many people use online websites to shop, communicate, and even work, and some of these web applications require the submission of personal and sometimes financial information to these sites. While many deterrents have been set in place such as two factor authentication and the creation of strong passwords, cyberattacks still happen daily. If a cyberattack were to hit a large company, this could put thousands or maybe even millions of people at risk. I am interested in cybersecurity because I want to help protect people from these risks. The truth about cybercrime, and what makes it extremely important is that anyone can be a victim. There is so much to learn within the cyber field, and there is a large demand and great pay for those who are willing to learn. What most interests me about cybersecurity is learning about how hackers work, and then learning how to build defenses against attacks. When initially reading about cybersecurity, I was most interested in penetration testing. While I’m aware that it’s normally an advanced level position, I hope I am able to work up to it at some point in my career. I believe that learning how to perform simulated cyberattacks to help a company security team identify and resolve any security issues would be extremely fulfilling, as you are potentially protecting thousands of people’s personal and financial information in the process. Working in cybersecurity will not only make me feel like I’m working towards something meaningful, but it will also be rewarding financially, and will allow me to live the lifestyle that I want for myself and my future family.