Description of the Experience
I participated in a community-centered service learning project as part of CYSE 301 that aimed to raise cybersecurity awareness among small businesses and local communities. In collaboration with a nearby NGO, we conducted a series of workshops on digital safety, including lessons on phishing awareness, password hygiene, and fundamental device security.
My role involved creating accessible content, helping lead a public-facing presentation, and designing handouts that translated technical best practices into everyday language. The goal was to bridge the gap between cybersecurity concepts and real-life applications for people without a technical background.
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Work Samples
• Global Monarch Club (GMC) – Mentorship Communication Logs
Selected excerpts from weekly check-ins and support messages sent to international students I mentored through GMC. These demonstrate my ability to provide consistent, empathetic guidance while helping others adjust to academic and cultural transitions.
• CivilianCyber – CCI TEEM Program Mentorship Recap
Summary reflection from my time mentoring students exploring cybersecurity career pathways. I helped students break down technical career paths, reviewed basic concepts with them, and offered weekly encouragement.
• COVA CCI Fall Undergraduate Research Collaboration Notes
Documented feedback from research collaboration sessions, where I guided or contributed to team discussions on ethical risks and technical methods around generative AI and cyber policy.
• VA Cyber Navigator Internship – Community Engagement Brief
Internal brief outlining how I contributed to increasing election system resilience in local communities, including steps taken to document cyber risks in rural Virginia counties.
• Raspberry Pi Final Presentation (Fall 2022)
Presentation slide deck created during my early years at ODU for a Raspberry Pi programming project, where we designed and explained a basic system to non-CS students during a community outreach showcase.
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Reflection
This experience reminded me why cybersecurity matters—not just for large institutions, but for everyday people navigating a connected world. It also made me more aware of the privilege that comes with technical knowledge—and the responsibility to make that knowledge usable for others.
One of the most meaningful moments came when a participant—someone older and clearly unfamiliar with the tech—asked a question that changed how we explained everything. That interaction pushed me to communicate with more empathy and fewer assumptions.
I also saw firsthand how security isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a human one. People wanted to feel safe online, but didn’t know where to start. Helping them take that first step felt like a real contribution.
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Skills Developed
This project helped me build key career and interpersonal skills:
• Communicate verbally: Delivered a live presentation to a non-technical audience and answered questions in real-time.
• Influence or sell to others: Persuaded participants of the value of adopting even small cybersecurity practices.
• Plan, organize, and prioritize work: Coordinated with teammates to design content, meet deadlines, and structure the event.
• Demonstrate technical knowledge: Translated cybersecurity terms and practices into language that made sense to the community.
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Connection to My Goals
Long-term, I want to lead in cybersecurity GRC, and AI policy spaces—but I also want to stay connected to real people. This experience reinforced that technical leadership also requires empathy, accessibility, and clarity. Whether I’m advising a company or working on policy, I want to stay rooted in that kind of communication.
It also gave me more confidence in my ability to step into a room, lead calmly, and deliver something of value, no matter who’s on the other side.