Cybersecurity Program Reflection: 

The skills I most value that I learned/practiced in my degree program are the technical skills. I learned how to deal with different types of Operating Systems, and many different modes of tightening security on all of them. I ran into multiple issues where it was impossible to learn the material and get enough help from just the professors/TA’s. I had to be resourceful and seek outside help. Watching educational videos on the subject material alongside receiving tutoring not offered by the university helped me succeed. I had to teach myself a lot of things and manage my time well. I ran into a similar situation with my C++ programming class. The only professor teaching the course was not an adequate instructor. He was smart and knew the material, but not good at instructing the class. I sought outside help and was able to learn what I needed from videos, fellow classmates, and tutors. 

IDS 493 Reflection:

This course is essentially learning how to market yourself through a portfolio hosted online. You learn how to present your works, yourself, and how you engage in the community to show you can do a job/are a well rounded person. The most valuable thing I learned in this course was how to tell a story to get viewers interested. You have to get people to ‘buy into’ your story to want to hire you etc. If you come across as a boring person with no experience, no one will hire you. 

I am most proud of my explanations of the coursework and how it relates to technical skills I will need on the job. If I could point someone to one thing in my portfolio, it would probably be my Crime and Computer Applications page showing that I have excellent articulation, writing, and comprehension skills required in any workplace. I was even complimented by my professor. The only obstacle I really encountered was figuring out how to export the ePortfolio after I graduate. Not even the assistants could properly explain it to me.

With more time, I could improve with more video/audio. I could also put in more colors. I was avoiding putting in the colors I wanted in the beginning of the course because it significantly reduced accessibility whenever I did. Previous courses simply helped me with time management. This was an essential skill for this course seeing as how there were roughly 3 assignments due a week.

Conclusion: 

The courses and program as a whole prepared me with a solid foundation to go out into the working world. It is impossible to say that I am completely prepared for anything coming my way since cybersecurity is such a vast academic/work field, but I feel ready. I enjoyed my criminal justice oriented classes the most. It made me think critically about cybersecurity, law, and policy. In particular, Dr. Roderick Graham was my favorite professor (outside IDS493) because he always properly explained assignments with wonderful presentations just like IDS493. 

In my field of study it is important to think critically in an interdisciplinary manner because, by nature; cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary field. You must know how people think and act to prevent issues with security. You must have technical skills alongside good social skills. It delves into computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, psychology, sociology, and more. My next steps after ODU are to get a job and move to the area with that job. I may eventually try to further my education, but I will get there one step at a time since I need experience the most.