What made you decide to choose your specific major?
Ever since high school when I became involved in my school’s Information Technology pathway, I fell in love with the world of technology. I find IT to be a big logic puzzle that I get to learn many different ways to solve the problem!
What are a couple of your favorite things about your program of study?
I love getting to learn new programming languages such as Python or Java, and ways to organize business scenarios from a security standpoint. Also, being able to see what happens behind the scenes when it comes to defending data or information and being able to learn through hands-on projects and collaboration is a cool aspect of Polytechnic.
What has been one of your favorite class projects?
One of my favorite class projects so far was the CNIT 182 System and Organizational security project. This project was a semester long project that applied the concepts and diagram modeling techniques that I learned in the class. The end goal was a Trainee Flight Operations information system to track and store data from the University. Fun fact, I’m the current undergraduate teaching assistant for this course as well!
What other activities are you involved in on campus?
I’m an active member of the All American Marching Band, Gold and Black sound and concert bands as a trumpet player, where I get to continue to express my passion for music at the college level. I also am an active member of Women in Technology and the Purdue Forensic Science Club. The final club that I am a part of is the Purdue Climbing Club where I get to rock climb with fun people from all different majors! All of these clubs allow me to have a creative outlet outside of my major to continue learning about topics outside my major.
What do you know about your program of study now that you wish someone had told you when you were choosing a major?
Cybersecurity isn’t all coding! Now, as a sophomore, I can confidently say that coding is a needed skill that I learned in my studies here, but cybersecurity has many more aspects to it such as modeling, ethical hacking and many more topics I get to learn in my studies.
What would be one piece of advice for prospective students or new Purdue students?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or go to office hours! You’ll learn more about topics and make connections within your department.