Throughout my time at Old Dominion University, I’ve learned more about how computer systems work and some of the different ways they can be protected. I’ve worked on assignments involving password security, networking, Linux commands, and other areas of cybersecurity. These projects have helped me get more comfortable working through technical problems and understanding why certain security practices matter. I’m still learning and building my skills, but I enjoy the hands-on side of technology and want to keep improving as I work toward a career in cybersecurity.

For this lab, I worked with password cracking and learned more about how weak passwords can create security risks. The assignment helped me understand how password security can affect the protection of accounts and systems. Working through the lab gave me a better idea of why strong passwords and proper security practices are important. This project demonstrates my understanding of password-related security risks and some of the ways cybersecurity professionals evaluate them.

In this assignment, I worked on networking basics, with a focus on subnetting and understanding network ranges. I practiced working with IP addresses, CIDR notation, and subnet calculations to figure out how networks can be divided. This helped me better understand how devices and networks are organized and how that knowledge connects to cybersecurity. It demonstrates my ability to work through technical problems and apply networking concepts to practical situations.

For this assignment, I worked with Linux and learned how to use crontab to schedule system tasks. The project focused on setting up automated backups, which are important for keeping data protected and making recovery easier if something goes wrong. Working through the assignment helped me become more familiar with the Linux command line and understand how automation can make system maintenance more efficient. It demonstrates my ability to use technical tools and apply them to a practical computing task.

Another skill I’ve developed through college is researching cybersecurity issues and understanding how they affect people and organizations. I’ve worked on assignments involving deepfake AI, cybersecurity frameworks, and security policies, which have helped me look at cybersecurity from more than just a technical perspective. I find it interesting how technology can create new risks and how organizations have to figure out the best ways to deal with them. These assignments have helped me improve my research, writing, and critical-thinking skills while learning more about the real-world side of cybersecurity.

For this project, I researched deepfake AI and some of the problems it can create, including misinformation, fraud, and identity theft. I looked into how this technology can be misused and why it has become an important issue for cybersecurity. The project helped me understand that security threats aren’t always caused by traditional hacking and that AI can create new challenges for individuals and organizations. It demonstrates my ability to research an emerging technology and explain the risks it can create in the real world.

For this assignment, I worked with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and explored how cybersecurity policies can help organizations manage security risks. I researched the framework and looked at how security practices can be used to identify problems and improve an organization’s overall security. This helped me understand how cybersecurity involves planning and evaluating risks, not just responding when something goes wrong. It demonstrates my ability to research security frameworks and understand how they can be applied in an organizational setting.

Through this project, I worked on information assurance topics and explored how security concepts can be used to protect information and systems. The assignment involved researching the subject, organizing information, and using what I learned to develop my analysis. It helped me better understand the importance of evaluating security risks and considering how organizations protect their information. This project demonstrates my ability to research cybersecurity topics, think through security-related problems, and communicate my findings in writing.

Working as a manager at Zumiez has helped me develop skills that I can use in pretty much any career. My job involves communicating with different people, helping the team stay organized, and handling situations that don’t always go as planned. I’ve learned how important it is to stay calm, be dependable, and take responsibility when something needs to get done. Even though retail management is different from cybersecurity, I think these experiences will help me work with others, communicate problems clearly, and handle responsibilities in a professional environment.

Working as a manager at Zumiez has given me experience taking responsibility for daily store operations and helping the team handle different situations. I’ve learned how to stay organized, communicate with coworkers, and make decisions when problems come up. This experience has taught me the importance of being dependable and making sure responsibilities are handled. It demonstrates my ability to take on leadership responsibilities and contribute to a team.

My experience at Zumiez has taught me how important communication is when working with a team. As a manager, I’ve had to work with different people, explain expectations, and help make sure everyone understands what needs to get done. I’ve learned that being a good communicator also means listening to others and adjusting how I approach different situations. These experiences demonstrate my ability to communicate clearly and work with others toward a common goal.

Working in retail has given me experience dealing with unexpected situations and figuring out how to handle them professionally. As a manager, I’ve had to think through problems, communicate with people, and find reasonable ways to move forward. These experiences have helped me become more adaptable and comfortable making decisions when things don’t go exactly as planned. I think those skills will carry over into cybersecurity, where being able to troubleshoot problems and communicate with others is important.