I have used a computer my entire life and am a part of the generation that remembers little about life without touch-screen phones. For me, pursuing a career in STEM, specifically computer science, was an obvious choice as I have a lot of personal experience with computers. Because I am the youngest of five and have an age gap of five years and upwards with my siblings, it was always a challenge to be relatable to them, but with technology, we all found common ground. Online games were the catalyst for our bonds because of their variety. I have made many memories with my siblings just by playing video games. So, my love for technology started from how it helped me bond with my siblings but grew when I started using it more for myself. I have always been someone who looks for new experiences and technology, specifically the internet, was a gift that kept giving. However, I know the internet can enhance your life as much as it can harm your life. It goes unnoticed how a lack of information security hinders people's lives. It disproportionately affects the elderly as they are unknowing of common frauds and phishing by modern technologies. These people are parents, grandparents, and siblings that deserve to live without dealing with fraudulent calls, emails, or text messages. Most phishing occurs from emails and those who are elderly may not have the knowledge to recognize the red flags within those emails, causing them to be tricked. On the internet, you are always at risk of being targeted by someone with malicious intent. And when I become a cybersecurity specialist, I want to be the shield that protects people from harm and gives them peace. The internet helps people in so many ways. From helping people find trivial things like how far the nearest corner store is, to significant things like how far the nearest emergency center is. I would never want someone who needs help to not receive it. To become someone who helps keep the world safe via the internet so other people can use it for emergencies, memories, or bonds is a desire I have like no other. My desire to grow and learn in this career path also involves the lack of other black women. During my first semester of classes, I felt as though I was an odd one out because I was the only person like myself in that space. Everything was new to me, and I was very out of depth. Overcoming this feeling of imposter syndrome happened through time and effort. As classes continued, I engaged well with the material because I had put in the effort to study and guaranteed I understood the content. Building a foundation to understand the content we would go over in class gave me the confidence I needed to no longer feel like an outsider. My blossoming friendships with my classmates also made me feel very welcome. From this, I know that if I can find my place in these computer science spaces, other black women can too. I want to be great at what I do and become a role model for other black women who are considering pursuing or are in the middle of pursuing a career in Cybersecurity. I want to change the world of other black women so they feel like "Hey, I could do this too." The fear of being alone holds many talented black women back, but I want to show them they will not be.

Hello, my name is Jaia Hawkins and I am an eighteen-year-old who is studying cybersecurity at my local community college. Because I am the youngest of five and have an age gap of five years and upwards with my siblings, it was always a challenge to be relatable to them, but with technology, we all found common ground. Online games were the catalyst for our bonds because of their variety. I have made many memories with my siblings just by playing video games. My love for technology started from how it helped me bond with my siblings, but grew when I started using it more for myself. I have always been someone who looks for new experiences and technology, specifically the internet, was a gift that kept giving. However, I know the internet can enhance your life as much as it can harm your life. Diving deeper into the security side of things, whenever you are on the internet there is always a risk of being targeted by someone who has malicious intent. And when I become a cybersecurity specialist, I want to be the shield that protects people from harm and gives them peace. The internet helps people in so many ways. From helping people find trivial things like how far the nearest corner store is, to intense things like how far the nearest emergency center is. I would never want someone who needs help to be unable to receive it. Imagine that someone's local pharmacy was hit with ransomware (bad actors accessing the pharmacy's data, encrypting it, and posting a ransom that needs to be paid to decrypt the data or the data will be destroyed) and now the pharmacy technicians cannot verify a person has a prescription, much less which prescription they were prescribed. Now, this person cannot get their prescription and the technicians are unable to help. When I become a cybersecurity specialist, my role would be to prevent that from happening and minimize the ransomware's effects. I want to make a positive impact on people's lives by eliminating their fear of being a victim of cyber threats. In my classes we learn that threats on the internet never go away, however, the best way to counter cyber threats is user education. When educating people about cyber threats, you are helping them identify signs and avoid attacks. In the future, when clients come to me because someone has hacked them, I do not want them to feel ashamed or scared. I want them to feel like I am someone they can rely on, and who can help them. User education is not about making your clients anxious, it is about making them diligent and confident in their cybersecurity knowledge. I may not help every person in the world, but whoever I come across as a cybersecurity specialist, I want their world on the internet to be changed for the better.

My passion for information security comes from my desire to be reliable, helpful, and guide those in need. Many people do not realize how many people's lives are hindered because of a lack of information security. It disproportionately affects the elderly as they are the least knowledgeable about common frauds and phishing by modern technologies. These people are mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings, and they deserve to live the rest of their lives without dealing with fraudulent calls, emails, or text messages. I hope to make the world a better place by making it a place where you can live without having to worry about the security of your devices because people like myself and who I will work with will protect you and your devices. I am currently enrolled in a Cybersecurity program at a local community college and plan to work an internship or apprenticeship in the second semester of my second year. While I am studying for my associate's, I will also be studying for the CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications. Ideally, once I finish my internship and obtain my A.A.S in Cybersecurity, along with those certifications, the company would hire me for an entry-level job. For the next two years, my mind is set on this. Because I am pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree, I have classes that focus on soft skills. I have previously taken a composition class for English and am currently taking Sociology and intend to take a class in ethics. In my composition class, I have learned to articulate on paper effectively which will be extremely helpful when it comes to Cybersecurity because one should be able to explain to higher-ups, or other co-workers what happened, how it happened, what can be done to fix the problem, and how that specific solution is the best one to take. And with that, the steps taken to solve the problem must be documented. When it comes to Sociology and Ethics, understanding how other people may think, or their motivations can be assisted in trying to know the attacker. It can help in differentiating between attackers like a script kiddie or a cyber-criminal, and that is very crucial when it comes to protecting a system. Within the last months of the year, I am planning to participate in the Microsoft Security Immersion Workshop: Shadow Hunter CTF (capture the flag) event to test out my intrusion detection and elimination skills and improve upon them. Along with their Microsoft Learn virtual classes for Azure fundamentals, cloud computing, and data roles and services. Lastly, I am currently working on participating in Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud Challenge to further my knowledge of cloud computing. My focus on cloud computing is because in my associate's program it is not something we have a particular focus on, and I believe a major push into cloud computing will happen soon, so I am getting a thorough understanding of how it works so I can know how to protect it.

Xbox 360, is the iconic and well-loved console that shaped the late 2000s and early 2010s gaming. It was the first console I had ever played, and it introduced me to many of the passions that I have today. From general FPS (first-person shooter) to dancing games, I always looked forward to turning the Xbox on to experience greatness. Something irreplaceable that it gave me was a bond between my siblings and me. As the youngest of five, with a gap of five years and up, it was always a challenge to relate to my siblings, but games always closed the gap. To this day I remember playing FPS' against my brother, dancing for hours with my sister, and when all my siblings joined together to play one game. Without those games and the memories that came with them, I do not know if I would be as close as I am with my siblings. Technology brings people together in a way that other things may not. Whether people are family, friends, or strangers, technology like the Xbox 360 gives people with common interests the ability to share passion, energy, and memories. When you are making connections and doing something you enjoy wholeheartedly, that experience gives life its meaning. Technology makes the world a better place because it makes the world a place worthy of experiencing. It is human nature to want to create bonds, feel appreciated, and overcome challenges and technology can do just that. With the way technology has shaped today’s world, it is hard to imagine life without it and I am grateful I do not have to.