Avery O’Neill

Cybersecurity (CIT)

What made you decide to choose your specific major?

Ever since I was very young, I have been fascinated with technology. As I grew up, I watched technology become more advanced. I have known since early in my high school years that I was interested in technology and coding, but I was also interested in criminology. I wasn’t aware that the cybersecurity field existed until I applied to Purdue. When I saw this field of study, I knew that it was 100% the route that I should follow. The fact that there are so many areas of work within cybersecurity also interested me because I knew I could apply my major to several areas.

What are a couple of your favorite things about your program of study?

There are many things that I love about cybersecurity. As I mentioned before, cybersecurity can be used in many different areas of work. The variety of classes that students get the opportunity to take allows them to be fully prepared for any cybersecurity field we may go into. I also really appreciate how hands-on or hands-off the field can be. It truly has something for everyone no matter what their interests in technology are or their strengths.

What has been one of your favorite class projects?

Within the cybersecurity program, students are primarily assigned labs instead of projects. My favorite labs that I worked on were in CNIT 24200: System Administration. This class pushed me to think outside of the box, which allowed me to also greatly improve my troubleshooting abilities. Because of this, I can safely say that CNIT 24200 is one of the classes that I have learned the most from, in terms of both content and personal skills, throughout my time at Purdue.

What other activities are you involved in on campus?

I am involved in many activities on campus, both relevant to my major and for fun. For clubs relevant to my major, I am involved in Polytechnic Student Ambassadors, Women in Cybersecurity, Women in Technology, and the Cyber Forensics Club where I currently serve on the Executive Board. As an out-of-state student in a male-dominated field, I wanted a way to meet women who were like me and who also had similar values. Because of this, I decided to try Greek Life where I joined the sorority Alpha Omicron Pi; I also currently serve on the Executive Board. All these activities have allowed me to grow in my leadership abilities and meet new people, which is one of the reasons I love Purdue!

What do you know about your program of study now that you wish someone had told you when you were choosing a major?

One thing I wish someone would have told me when I was picking my major was that it is okay if you do not know what you are doing at the beginning. Purdue admits students of all experience levels, so it is 100% okay if you feel overwhelmed in the beginning; I know there were definitely some classes that caused me to feel this way. Your professors are always more than happy to help you if you put in the effort to reach out to them. If you don't reach out, they won't know that you are confused or struggling so it is important to advocate for yourself during those times.

What would be one piece of advice for prospective students or new Purdue students?

My number one piece of advice, especially during your first few weeks, is to not be afraid to try new things and step out of your comfort zone. During Boiler Gold Rush (Purdue’s freshmen orientation program), the different colleges on campus host a meet your college event. I almost didn’t end up going, but I am so thankful that I went. I ended up meeting some of my best friends in my major because of this event and I know many other people who did the same. During your college experience, you will never know when you will meet your new best friends, so it is incredibly important to go to as many things as possible, especially at the beginning.

Have questions? Email me at oneill71@purdue.edu