Reflection Paper 1

Shaquile Garces-Phillips
Old Dominion University
CYSE 368  Cyber Security Internship

June 6 2025

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr once said that A mind that is stretched by new experiences could never go back to its old dimensions. With that being said, my internship with the City of Virginia Beach presents an incredible opportunity to broaden my knowledge and gain valuable real-world experience in areas I have yet to explore. As mentioned above, I am interning with the Department of Information Technology, specifically within the Human Services IT division.

On the first day, I, along with five other interns, met with Susan Salafranca and Jennifer Gey from Human Resources for our orientation. During this session, we received important onboarding information, including instructions on how to clock in and out, details about our benefits, our assigned supervisors, and the departments to which we would be assigned.

Following orientation, my supervisor, TJ Klak, met with me and another intern named Seth, who is also assigned to the Human Services IT building. He drove us to the site, explained our roles, and outlined what we would be exposed to during the internship. Our primary learning objectives include an introduction to the IT workforce and foundational IT principles, such as desktop support, hardware and software, networking fundamentals, data analysis, cybersecurity, project management, teamwork, and customer service. Since our internship began on a Thursday, we did not have a whole first week. On Friday, we focused on ensuring we could log in to our computers using the provided credentials, set up our email accounts adequately, and learn how to use Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform that allows users to communicate via chat, audio, and video calls, as well as host virtual meetings. It also enables teams to share and co-edit files, organize conversations into channels and manage tasks efficiently. Integrated with Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, Teams supports both workplace productivity and remote collaboration. Learning how to navigate and use this tool was essential, as it prepared us for our first real assignment.

For our first whole week (June 2 to June 6), we worked under Gina Harris, who reports to our supervisor, TJ Klak. Gina’s role focuses on HHS IT Solutions, Access Management, and Workforce. Our project involved assisting with the Annual Benefits Program System Review and State Audits. As part of this project, we met—virtually via Microsoft Teams—with 22 supervisors collectively responsible for over 100 employees.

Our task was to review system access for each employee. For example, some employees used a platform called SpiDer, which provides access to various benefit systems, including Social Security, EBT, and disability services. We had to determine whether each employee still required access to specific systems and remove any unnecessary authorizations.

After each meeting, we sent a follow-up email to the respective supervisor summarizing the discussion. The email included a list of who retained access and whose access was removed, as well as provided links to any necessary forms that needed to be filled out if additional access was required. 

With that being said, some of the classes I took last semester helped prepare me for this experience particularly those that covered granting and revoking user access. This background was instrumental while working with Gina Harris, as it allowed me to understand better how access management works in a real-world environment.

This internship has also been incredibly motivating. It is giving me firsthand insight into how cybersecurity functions in the field and allowing me to apply the knowledge I’ve gained in the classroom. There haven’t been any discouraging moments so far because I’m constantly learning and expanding my understanding. As I continue to grow, I’m learning to retain and apply new information—even when it becomes challenging. I welcome the challenge because I know every obstacle brings me one step closer to success.

One of my proudest success stories so far is securing this internship with the City of Virginia Beach, it was my top choice from the beginning! My advice to future interns is to maintain an open mind and be prepared to work diligently. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, because what’s outside of it may be precisely what prepares you for your future.