{"id":9,"date":"2026-05-04T06:47:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T06:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/tboak002\/?page_id=9"},"modified":"2026-05-04T18:15:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:15:55","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/tboak002\/","title":{"rendered":"About Me"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aspiring Cybersecurity Professional | BS Cybersecurity, Class of 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOC Analyst with hands-on security experience and a passion for protecting people, systems, and data.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Welcome to my e-portfolio. My name is Terrance Boakye<\/strong>. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at Old Dominion University. I am expected to graduate in May 2026. This site is a window into my journey, the skills I have built, and the work that proves them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Story: From Alexandria to Cybersecurity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Where I Started<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. My family came from Ghana. We speak Twi at home. I learned English in school and picked up Spanish along the way. Being around three languages shaped how I see the world. I learned early that people communicate in different ways. I also learned that listening matters just as much as speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am a first generation college student. No one in my family had walked the path of higher education in the United States before me. That made things harder in some ways. But it also made things meaningful. Every step I took was a step my family had not taken before. Every grade I earned felt like proof that the move to America was worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming Into College Lost<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I will be honest. I came into college not knowing what I wanted to do. I had a list of majors in my head. I had no clear direction. Some friends pushed me toward business. Others said I should try engineering. I tried a few classes in different fields. Nothing clicked. I felt like I was floating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That changed when I took my first cybersecurity course. The topic grabbed me right away. We talked about how attackers think. We talked about how networks get broken into. We talked about how small mistakes can put millions of people at risk. I left that class feeling something I had not felt before. I felt curious. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know how all of it worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Cybersecurity Hit Different<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Cybersecurity is not just a technical field. It is a field about people. Every breach starts with a person. Every defense is built by a person. Every policy is written for a person. That side of the work pulled me in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also liked that cybersecurity rewards the way I think. I am someone who pays attention to small details. I notice things that other people miss. In cybersecurity, that habit is a strength. A small log entry can reveal a big attack. A small change in a system can hide a big threat. The job is about seeing what others overlook. That fits how my brain works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Real Experience While in School<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I did not want to be a student who only learned from textbooks. I wanted real experience. So I started working in security while I studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My first role was at Comstock and Park X in Reston. I worked as a Security Surveillance Specialist. I managed access control systems. I used tools like Pro Watch and Skidata. I monitored CCTV feeds. I learned how to spot real threats in real time. I learned how to document what I saw in a way that held up under review. That job taught me that security is not just about technology. It is about people, process, and pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In July 2025 I moved into a Security Operations Center role at Allied Universal Security in Manassas. I now work as a SOC Analyst. I monitor surveillance systems, intrusion alarms, and life-safety platforms. I respond to incidents in real time. I coordinate with law enforcement when things get serious. I write more than 45 incident reports each month. Each report has to be accurate. Each report has to be defensible. Each report has to tell the truth about what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This work changed me. I am no longer just a student reading about security. I am someone who lives it every shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Certifications and What They Mean<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I hold several certifications that support my work. I am DCJS certified. I am trained in unarmed response. I am trained in arrest authority. I am certified in first aid and CPR. I am handcuff certified. I am alarm certified. I am baton and OC spray certified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These certifications are not just lines on a resume. They show that I take this work seriously. They show that I am ready when something goes wrong. They show that I respect the responsibility of being trusted with the safety of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What My Degree Has Taught Me<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

My degree at Old Dominion University has given me tools I use every day. I have learned about networks. I have learned about threats. I have learned about risk and compliance. I have used tools like Wireshark, Python, and Linux. I have studied policies and frameworks that shape how organizations protect themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The degree is interdisciplinary. That word matters to me. Cybersecurity is not one thing. It is many things woven together. It is technology. It is law. It is psychology. It is communication. It is business. My program has pushed me to think across these areas. I have learned to write reports that non-technical readers can follow. I have learned to break down complex issues into simple language. I have learned that the best cybersecurity professionals are not just technical. They are also clear thinkers and clear communicators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skills I Bring to the Field<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Through my degree and my work, I have built three skills I am proud of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first is technical security and threat analysis. I can monitor systems. I can spot threats. I can respond fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is risk management and compliance. I understand how policies, audits, and frameworks protect organizations. I know how to keep records that meet legal standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third is communication and technical writing. I write reports that hold up. I explain technical issues to people who do not have technical backgrounds. I know how to be clear under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where I Am Headed<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

These three skills work together. A good cybersecurity professional needs all three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am graduating in May 2026. After that, I want to grow into a full cybersecurity role. I am open to many paths. I could see myself as a SOC Analyst at a larger enterprise. I could see myself in a GRC role focused on risk and compliance. I could see myself in incident response. What I know for sure is that I want to keep learning. The field moves fast. Threats change every day. I want to grow with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What This Portfolio Shows<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This site holds the proof of what I have built so far. It holds my essays. It holds my projects. It holds my reflections. It holds my resume. Every artifact on this site connects back to a skill I will bring to my next role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for visiting. Take a look around. I hope you leave with a clear picture of who I am and what I can do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aspiring Cybersecurity Professional | BS Cybersecurity, Class of 2026 SOC Analyst with hands-on security experience and a passion for protecting people, systems, and data. Welcome to my e-portfolio. My name is Terrance Boakye. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at Old Dominion University. I am expected to graduate in May 2026. This… <\/p>\n

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