Cybersecurity Internship
During the fall of 2025, I had the opportunity to internship with the Virginia State Police in my senior year. During this experience, I had the opportunity to intern for a total of 150 hours. I spent the bulk of my time with the High Tech Crimes Unit and Fusion Center, while having the opportunity to shadow other departments. During this time, I had the opportunity to gain hands-on, real-world, and relevant experience as it relates to cybersecurity/cybercrime.
Course Material
While completing the internship, I had the opportunity to reflect on how my coursework at ODU such as crime mapping and cyber law perfectly aligned with the learning opportunities I experienced while completing the internship.
Applying Course Knowledge/Skill Development/Personal Development
My internship with the Virginia State Police was far more than a learning opportunity. It was a transformational experience that reshaped my understanding of myself, my abilities, and my long-term goals. It challenged me to think critically, work with precision, and approach every task with a sense of purpose and responsibility. Through real investigative work, hands-on exposure to cybercrime cases, and active participation in intelligence analysis, I gained a deeper appreciation for the seriousness and urgency of cybersecurity work. The experience helped me recognize my own strengths. It helped me to grow with attention to detail, curiosity, and resilience, while also showing me areas where I still need to grow. Instead of discouraging me, those realizations motivated me. They gave me a clearer vision of what kind of professional I want to become and what it will take to get there. In many ways, this internship confirmed that cybersecurity is not just something I study, but it is a field where I genuinely belong.