My University Journey: Navigating Cybersecurity and Beyond
From classroom theories to real-world security challenges
As I sip my (probably too strong) coffee and stare at the mountain of coursework that needs completing, it hits me—final year. Somehow, I've reached the last stretch of my Computer Science degree with a focus on Cyber Security at Plymouth University. How did that happen so fast?
Hooked from the Start
I still remember my first cybersecurity lecture. The lecturer was casually demonstrating how easy it is to hijack an unsecured network. Something clicked. That "wait, you can actually do that?" moment turned into a full-blown obsession.
Fast forward to today, and I'm lucky enough to be working with the Southwest Cyber Resilience Centre. If you'd told me in first year that I'd soon be delivering security training to actual businesses, I'd have laughed nervously while secretly hoping you were right.
When Theory Meets Reality
Nothing beats that moment when classroom concepts from lectures suddenly make sense in real-world situations. Like the time I was showing a local charity how to spot phishing emails:
"See that email that looks like it's from your bank? It's not. Hover over the link. Go on—I'll wait."
The lightbulb moments I witness during these sessions are just as rewarding for me as they are for the attendees. Knowing that I've given them that extra piece of knowledge so if they ever receive an email they weren't expecting they now know what to look out for.
Organised Chaos
Between lectures, cybersecurity work, and my photography job at Warwick Castle, I've become really good with time management. My calendar's a mess of colour-coded commitments, but things somehow always get done. Often, well before the deadline too in some cases.
The real surprise? Discovering that the most valuable skills aren't always the technical ones. Try explaining buffer overflows to your grandma. If you can manage that, you can teach anyone just about anything.
My Everyday Toolkit
I've built up what I like to call my “digital Swiss Army knife”:
- Nessus: My go-to for vulnerability scanning
- Kali Linux: The ultimate playground for security testing
- Burp Suite: Extremely useful for poking around web apps
Each tool has its own learning curve (and associated frustration), but mastering them has been incredibly rewarding.
Beyond the Screen
When I'm not staring at lines of code or security logs, you'll probably find me:
- Hiking or cycling around the countryside
- Building custom PCs that light up like Christmas trees
- Attempting to explain cybersecurity concepts to my very patient and supportive cat
What's Next?
Graduation's coming fast. I'm both excited and slightly terrified. The cybersecurity field changes faster than I can keep up with sometimes, but that's part of what makes it so exciting.
Whether it's diving deeper into digital forensics or exploring malware analysis, I'm ready for whatever challenges come next. Well, mostly ready. After I finish this coffee, at least.