Reflection #2

In the COVA Cyber Clinic over the last couple weeks, I’ve started applying the concepts we’ve been studying in the first 6 weeks of the program into real world scenarios. On Thursday last week, I got to meet my client for the first time, and it was a very fulfilling experience. My group and I had the privilege of interviewing Tashaya from TJS Financial Solutions, diving into the history of her company, her experience with data breaches, and her goals from a cybersecurity standpoint. We also had a followup meeting with her today where we got to provide some immediate solutions for some of the security issues she’s been having while we work on our final presentation to give to her in April, and ask her some important questions to get the most out of this project. Conducting these meetings with an actual business owner has felt incredibly rewarding and has helped me develop skills such as professionalism, communication, and problem solving.

Throughout my past 3 years in college, the only methods of applying what I’ve learned is by taking exams or completing homework assignments, which while important, does not have much of a satisfaction element to go along with it. Learning with the Cyber Clinic however has already felt way more rewarding because instead of just seeing grades and exam scores, I get to witness the impact of my knowledge in a real world context by communicating with my client and engaging in meaningful discussions. During our meeting today for example Tashaya described the information we provided with her “thought provoking” and “valuable,” and seeing that immediate effect of the services we’re providing make my learning feel much more significant and impactful.

I hope that in the remaining 6 weeks after spring break, I’ll be able to create a presentation with my group that will be able to shape the direction of an entire company and create a lasting influence on the owner. So far my experience has been great and I’m eager to continue growing through it.