What made you decide to choose your specific major?
When it came to deciding a major, I knew I wanted to do something with technology from the start. I had taken a handful of coding classes in high school, so I felt very comfortable in that field. However, landing on a specific major was a lot more challenging than I had thought. I knew I wanted to attend Purdue, but I felt that the best way to pick a major would be to pick a college. Immediately my interest was attached to the Polytechnic Institute and the CIT department and with that, I decided to go on a tour. This was a revolutionary experience for me. I got to see a ton of classrooms and labs that CIT students do their work in and I loved it. I was completely surprised by the amount of hardware that was available for learning. One lab in particular really sparked my interest, which was Knoy 206. This is the lab where CNIT 344 and CNIT 345 happen, which are networking and cybersecurity classes. Once the tour was over I couldn’t stop thinking about how exciting I felt looking into that lab. Two days later I applied to Purdue as a Cybersecurity major and I am proud to be a Boilermaker!
What are a couple of your favorite things about your program of study?
There are so many things to enjoy about cybersecurity, especially at Purdue. While I have many favorite aspects, my absolute favorite would be the learning experience. The hands-on learning experience at the Polytechnic is the best way to learn. Lectures prepare students for the labs and the labs are where you get to apply all of your learning to the specified objectives. Seeing both aspects combine together seamlessly feels like magic.
What has been one of your favorite class projects?
In the cybersecurity program, projects exist but there are more labs than projects. With this being the case, my favorite labs were in CNIT 242. This class focuses on system administration, so there is a lot of Windows implementation involved. However my favorite lab of 242 was Lab 3, which focuses on virtualizing all components of lab, which was super cool!
What other activities are you involved in on campus?
In addition to Polytechnic Ambassadors, I’m also involved in the Purdue JamSpace club, which works towards allowing students to rehearse and practice with their own bands and groups on campus! I’m also in a band which I started and I get to play concerts every once in a while!
What do you know about your program of study now that you wish someone had told you when you were choosing a major?
When I was choosing my major I wish someone told me that Cybersecurity is a lot more than coding! While the CIT program does include a variety of courses in Java, Python, SQL, C and Linux, these languages are combined with other practical knowledge in order for students to be a cybersecurity professional.
What would be one piece of advice for prospective students or new Purdue students?
I would encourage students to not be afraid to try different things! Purdue is a huge campus with 50,000 students, all of whom have different experiences. It is easy to think that college will be only work focused, but some of the best times I’ve had have been with my new friends on campus. Also, don’t be afraid to make friends with your TA’s!