This reflection essay highlights my development as an interdisciplinary learner and a future cybersecurity professional by examining three essential skill sets: networking, problem solving, and attention to detail. Through nine artifacts drawn from coursework, labs, real-world job experiences, and collaborative projects, I demonstrate how these skills extend beyond technical expertise into broader interdisciplinary applications. Each artifact reflects how I’ve integrated knowledge from various fields, cybersecurity, computer science, and information systems, to address complex problems and contribute to team-based solutions.
My academic journey, especially in courses like IDS 300W and CYSE, taught me that cybersecurity is not confined to one discipline. It requires critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning, and the ability to work across technical and non-technical boundaries. These experiences have helped me understand the interconnected nature of cyber threats, policy, and infrastructure. I have learned to communicate technical issues clearly, collaborate with diverse teams, and remain flexible in rapidly changing environments. My ultimate goal is to work in IT defense for the government, and my academic foundation has prepared me to meet the demands of this field. This reflection serves as both an assessment of my learning and a roadmap for applying my interdisciplinary education to real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Introduction: Building Career Readiness Through Interdisciplinary Learning
When I first began pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity at Old Dominion University, I was eager to develop technical expertise. However, what I’ve come to realize is that becoming career-ready for a role in IT defense, especially one that involves safeguarding critical infrastructure, requires more than just mastering networking configurations or scripting skills. It demands a strong foundation in interdisciplinary learning, adaptability, communication, and critical analysis. This reflection explores how my coursework, job experience, and assignments sharpened three key skill sets—networking, problem solving, and attention to detail—and how each skill contributes to my future career. By analyzing selected artifacts, I’ll show how interdisciplinary integration prepared me to meet the diverse challenges of cybersecurity work.
Networking: Bridging Infrastructure and Security
The foundation of any secure system begins with a resilient network. My first skill, networking, has been strengthened through practical experience and course assignments that required deep technical knowledge, as well as the ability to apply it across various disciplines, such as systems thinking, information assurance, and even communication.
Artifact 1: Network Configuration Documentation
During my role at Connected Solutions Group, I created and maintained documentation for static IP setups, DHCP reservations, and firewall rules. While these may seem like purely technical tasks, they required clear articulation of configurations for both IT teams and non-technical stakeholders. The interdisciplinary challenge here was blending technical accuracy with accessible communication, a skill reinforced in IDS 300W. I learned how to convey complex data flow and security concerns in ways that could be understood and reviewed collaboratively.
Artifact 2: Router & Switch Configuration
Configuring routers like Cradlepoint and Peplink from scratch gave me hands-on exposure to real-world enterprise networking. I applied my knowledge of VLANs and routing tables while considering the user experience, redundancy protocols, and vendor specifications. This demonstrated how networking is not just about protocols, but also about organizational behavior, user needs, and policy, connecting disciplines like human factors, law, and compliance.
Artifact 3: Network Failover Design
One of the most impactful experiences was designing a network failover system for critical infrastructure. Here, I learned to apply both theory and practice, integrating concepts from CYSE 406 (Cyber Law), where I studied legal responsibilities in maintaining operational continuity. My failover design reflected a balance between network efficiency and legal compliance, a key interdisciplinary competency in government defense roles.
As cybersecurity scholar P.W. Singer argues, “security is no longer only a technical challenge but also a social and political one” (Singer & Friedman, 2014).
Problem Solving: Thinking Across Layers
Cybersecurity is a field defined by dynamic problems, new threats, evolving technologies, and intricate systems. My second skill, problem solving, has been shaped by coursework and job roles that required not only technical fixes but also critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation.
Artifact 4: ISP Escalation Troubleshooting
While working as a tier-2 support engineer, I handled ISP-related escalations that often required deep diagnostic reasoning. One case involved tracing an intermittent connectivity issue caused by a rare routing misconfiguration between the client’s firewall and the provider’s modem. Solving this demanded interdisciplinary thinking, using logic, networking protocols, and client communication to isolate and resolve the issue. It taught me to approach technical problems with a broader lens.
Artifact 5: Linux Scripting Assignments
In CYSE 270 (Linux Systems for Cybersecurity), I completed shell scripting tasks that automated key administrative operations. These assignments blended programming, operating systems, and cybersecurity principles, highlighting the cross-disciplinary value of scripting in real-world security tasks. I had to think beyond syntax and understand the system-wide implications of automation, particularly when working on tasks like user permission management and log rotation.
Artifact 6: Cryptography Homework (Random Number Generation)
For one of my cryptography assignments, I implemented random number generation using Linear Congruential Generators (LCG) and Linear Feedback Shift Registers (LFSR). This task combined mathematics, computer science, and cybersecurity theory. It also connected to larger concepts in secure key generation and unpredictability. The biggest challenge was ensuring the randomness of outputs while understanding their cryptographic applications, highlighting that problem solving in this field requires both algorithmic precision and conceptual clarity.
According to Hutchins, Cloppert, & Amin (2011), solving modern cyber threats requires “an understanding of attacker methodology, system design, and defensive architecture” a problem-solving framework rooted in interdisciplinarity.
Attention to Detail: Precision in Protection
In IT defense, a single overlooked configuration can become a critical vulnerability. Attention to detail, my third key skill, has been a cornerstone of my academic and professional success. It’s a skill that reveals itself in both small practices and large-scale system designs.
Artifact 7: Modem Troubleshooting Logs
Documenting and troubleshooting Cradlepoint and Peplink connectivity issues required detailed log analysis. Each detail, from firmware version to signal strength, mattered in diagnosing root causes. The precision with which I approached this work reflected an interdisciplinary foundation: technical skills from my networking courses, methodical thinking from scripting labs, and real-world urgency from my job experience.
Artifact 8: Cybersecurity Policy Paper
In my paper Cybersecurity Policy in Critical Infrastructure, I had to clearly explain legal, technical, and ethical tradeoffs to a general audience. This required close attention to both content and language, ensuring accuracy without overwhelming the reader. I drew on what I learned in IDS 300W, particularly the importance of audience-aware communication, a critical skill in government and policy-based work.
Artifact 9: Firewall & Security Configurations
Applying knowledge from Fortinet NSE 1–3 training, I configured firewall rules and security parameters for various clients. These tasks demanded meticulous attention to access control, encryption settings, and packet inspection. One small misstep could leave an open port exposed. I often referred to vendor updates and threat feeds, adjusting configurations accordingly. This artifact ties directly into government defense roles, where systems must remain resilient under constant threat.
Research in government cybersecurity highlights that attention to detail is “an essential skill in ensuring compliance, minimizing human error, and reinforcing layered defense” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2020).
Interdisciplinary Lessons and Theories
Reflecting on these artifacts, what stands out most is the role of interdisciplinary education in my success. IDS 300W, in particular, helped me understand how different disciplines shape the way we frame problems, communicate solutions, and evaluate outcomes. The integration of law (CYSE 406), ethics (Cyber Law), and technical courses (like Cryptography and Linux Systems) gave me a diverse toolkit for addressing security from multiple angles.
For instance, in our CYSE group project proposing a cybersecurity policy for critical infrastructure, I collaborated with students who focused on legal risk, policy communication, and technical implementation. This experience mirrored the interdisciplinary teams in government roles, where engineers, legal experts, and policymakers work together. Our project taught me the importance of listening, negotiating, and respecting different perspectives.
As Newell (2001) emphasizes in his work on interdisciplinarity, “complex problems do not yield to disciplinary methods alone but require integration of multiple perspectives.”
Conclusion: Career Readiness Through Interdisciplinary Strength
Preparing for a career in IT defense for the government requires more than just technical knowledge, it demands an adaptive mindset, a cross-disciplinary skillset, and a strong sense of responsibility. Throughout my academic journey at Old Dominion University and my hands-on professional experience, I’ve developed the ability to configure secure networks, troubleshoot and resolve complex issues, and apply a high level of precision and care to every task I take on. These abilities are not only technical; they are grounded in communication, ethics, and analytical thinking drawn from a range of disciplines.
The artifacts I’ve selected for this reflection demonstrate how my interdisciplinary education has shaped my readiness for a cybersecurity career. Whether configuring firewalls, scripting automation tools, or presenting cybersecurity policies, I’ve learned to approach problems holistically, considering both the technical and human factors involved. Every challenge has taught me the importance of connecting theory with practice and bridging knowledge across fields.
Cybersecurity, particularly in government defense, is about protecting the invisible links that keep systems and lives secure. My education has taught me that every connection matters. With this foundation, I am prepared to step into the role of defender, bringing critical insight and technical capability to safeguard systems, byte by byte.
References
Hutchins, E. M., Cloppert, M. J., & Amin, R. M. (2011). Intelligence-driven computer network defense informed by analysis of adversary campaigns and intrusion kill chains. Leading Issues in Information Warfare & Security Research, 1(1), 80–106.
Newell, W. H. (2001). A theory of interdisciplinary studies. Issues in Integrative Studies, 19, 1–25.
Singer, P. W., & Friedman, A. (2014). Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2020). Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).
Weiss, J. (2010). Protecting Industrial Control Systems from Electronic Threats. Momentum Press.