Getting Into an IT or Cybersecurity Field

You probably found this because you have decided to pursue a career in IT or cybersecurity. It is a fascinating and growing field to be in. After being in the field for over 25 years, I have grown to have mixed feelings about it, which I hope to dive into as I start talking about the way I entered the field. 

I was lucky enough to be persistent in ensuring that I joined the Armed Forces with a dedicated specialty. This alone was hard. I had a difficult time at home and at school. My expectations were not high, as I felt that I was not qualified, having dropped out of high school. I was fortunate and privileged to score high on the ASVAB without studying. This allowed me to not only join but also secure my aspirations in Information Technology. 

Now this is not a demonstration that you can fly by without any real knowledge on any material. I was always a smart kid but sadly life gave me tons of disappointments that I decided to give up on seeing a future. This typically happens when you are raised in a single parent home where the parent is always gone. I thought the grass was always greener being bad as there was no obligations. So this was by far my way out of the life that I thought was expected of me. 

I have always been one to keep to my word, so when I signed tentatively to join the Armed Forces, I took it serious. On the day that I was due to leave, I was so nervous. It was not my first time leaving home but it felt like a huge decision to leave again for this life-changing event. 

What I wish I could tell that young person was "do not fear - this will open doors to your true potential!". 

So much Change - So little Difference

There has been such a significant change since the day I first started my interest in the Information Technology field. I still remember touching my hands onto an IBM keyboard while waiting for DOS to prompt me to type. The excitement of doing a new code to create graphics on a black and green matrix screen was exhilarating, to say the least. This was over twenty years ago when the world seemed so small, and there was so much to learn.

I was learning programming with IBM BASIC in my elementary school. I was able to create graphics and non-stop diagrams on my screens. I would never imagine that the little I learned would become something that I would want to pursue for the rest of my life.


As time progressed, so did the technology that we know consider as an essential need for everyday life. It used to more straightforward in those days to even start afresh in a new city without having to worry about your past being dug being brought up. The news was circulated on paper, and jobs were posted in newspapers. There was no such thing as online job search websites like Indeed, Dice, etc. Many people did not get to know anyone past their city limits until AOL came to the business with their fancy dial tone. The infamous modem ringing and creating a tunnel of connection to chat rooms and websites.


That is when the world seemed so big and the realization that there was an infinite amount to learn more about technology. Computers were shown to be the gateway to seeing the world in a more complex and innovative manner.