Introduction

When I first started at Old Dominion University, I was a transfer student with the intention of pursuing a degree in computer science. After my first semester at ODU and everything I learned about the School of Cybersecurity I knew I wanted to refocus my degree on cybersecurity. Because of COVID-19, I was not able to have the typical ODU experience; however, this did not take away from the knowledge and skills I obtained as a student. I would recommend the Cybersecurity program at ODU to anyone who is interested in learning more about cybersecurity and information security because of the hands-on lab experience as well as the instructors within the program, from my experience,  who are interested in seeing their students learn and succeed. I think the technical writing and verbal skills I obtained in this program is one of the most valuable skills I have learned because I can now confidently interact in technical discussions with people outside of the cybersecurity field as well as professionals in the cybersecurity field. 

Program Reflection

From my time here, I feel like I have done the most growing both academically and personally. Due to the pandemic, my transfer to ODU was different due to everything being shut down but still virtual. This was one of the biggest challenges I had in my first year because I was getting used to a new school while also learning how to do everything online. I think that overall, because of my degree, this benefitted me in the end because I was able to learn time management, communication skills, as well as new technical skills that I will take with me in the future. There was also times where my cybersecurity courses were on the same topics and discussions so I was able to take the knowledge from one course and apply it to another. For example, I was in Cyber Law at the same time I was taking Digital Forensics and I remember using one of the privacy laws we discussed in a digital forensic analysis project. 

As I completed this program, I feel like finding connections within your peers for study groups and meetings is one of the best ways that I found ways to help myself succeed in the program. In the Cybersecurity Program there were many writing and math courses that helped me in my cybersecurity focused classes such as linux systems and cybersecurity strategy and policy. Overall, I am grateful for this program for teaching me valuable skills that I know I will use for the rest of my life.

IDS 493 Reflection

IDS 493 is a course dedicated to building an electronic portfolio to portray one’s skills, knowledge, or achievements not only through text but also through media such as photos and videos. This course has helped me realize how many tools and resources are out there that can help you build a professional online presents that is not through a social media platform. One of the most interesting concepts we have talked about numerous times throughout the semester is how much visual design and color combination facts are so important to building a site that is user-friendly while still looking nice. When I think about the work I put into my portfolio, I am really proud of the visual representation I chose to add throughout the site with photos and graphs as well as embedded PDFs of my work. I think I did a good job in keeping the style of the site consistent throughout the pages. One of the major obstacles I encountered within IDS 493 was definitely more at the beginning of the semester when I was trying everything for the first time and I could not figure out how to change themes, menus, fonts, ect., but one thing that really helped me was my meeting with the ODU e-portfolio assistant’s because they were thorough with my entire site and helped me learn different tools and mechanisms for using wordpress, which is the ODU Web-building platform. Previous courses I have taken such as Cybersecurity Ethics, Interdisciplinary Theories and Concepts, Introduction to Linux Systems, and Digital Forensics have helped me add artifacts and media to my pages to help show what I have learned throughout my time at ODU. In time I want to continue to use my portfolio, or something like it, because it is a great way to show future employers the work I have done as well as the information I have been exposed to.

Conclusion

Learning about interdisciplinary methods and theories has opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about situations. For instance, I did not realize that cybersecurity can be considered to be so interdisciplinary. Cybersecurity has theories and concepts that have come from information technology, psychology, sociology, computer science, and more. I think that it is very important to be an interdisciplinary thinker in the field of cybersecurity because it allows you to think of various solutions for complex technical problems for any profession. For instance, if a hospital wanted to ensure thier computer system was safe and protected from attacks, they would ask the help of a cybersecurity professional, however, in order for the cybersecurity professionals to ensure the system is properly abiding by health care laws and protecting information it would be helpful for them to follow their guidelines as well as health care guidelines. Because of the rapid expansion of technology and the use of technology in every aspect of life, cybersecurity is critical to everyone and therefore should be thought of as interdisciplinary. After I graduate from ODU, I want to focus on obtaining certifications in the IT field such as CompTIA and Security+ to educate myself even further as well as show that I can apply what I have learned outside of school. I hope to get a job within the cybersecurity field at least a year after graduation.