I have been looking up to computer programmers my entire life. I’ve felt from a very young age that I would follow in the footsteps of my mother and go into some form a coding or programming however, those aspirations changed when I got older. I realized that programming might be in my future in some facet but what I really wanted to do was go into cybersecurity. In my time here at USF I have studied information science, specifically focused in security. This degree will give me the tools to chase after my career aspirations, allowing me to utilize what I have learned to aid in the protection of sensitive data at the corporate level. Throughout these few paragraphs I will outline the life experiences that make me uniquely capable of offering a new outlook on situations and how I am a valuable asset to any corporation.
As far as practical experience outside of USF, unfortunately I have little to nun. However, I feel I have gained many tools and values from my life outside of school that will separate me from other potential employees. My previous work experience and my heavy involvement in sports gave me many tools that will aid in my future career. I have been a bartender and a waiter at Outback Steakhouse for over four years now. This was my first job after my basketball career was over and I still work there now. Before Outback I played competitive basketball for many years. Starting travel-ball before high school and playing into my freshman year at Polk State College for the school. It was a full-time commitment, and my values were inevitably derived from my time playing basketball. The two strongest traits I gained from my time on a basketball court are I’m extremely team oriented and a great communicator. I am also a loyal worker, if I make a commitment to a company, I will see it through. This is displayed though my time at Outback Steakhouse. I have applied all of these skills to my college experience and have seen success through hard work and punctuality. Being on time with work and staying consistent is what has helped me see success in college.
I have also had many experiences through my college experience at USF, that have helped me grow and expand my knowledge on the field of information technology and cybersecurity. I have learned coding languages such as Java, Python, and HTML. Learning to code and learning different coding languages gives me a deeper understanding of the different aspects of computer communication and the interactions between hardware and software. I’ve also taken courses on networking and computer communications. This deepens my understanding of the physical hardware in play and how a network is interconnected. This would help me identify weaknesses and strengthen a network in a cybersecurity setting. I have gotten some practical experience utilizing different software through other courses. I’ve worked with virtual machines on multiple occasions throughout my degree. Remotely accessing different machines for the purpose of attacking different operating systems such as Windows and Linux all from my laptop. This allows me to understand some common cyberattack methods and common types of malware utilized by hackers. I’ve used Wireshark and ArcGIS; these are very different software that are used for vastly different things. One monitors incoming and outgoing transmissions over a network, the other is mapping software commonly used in business analytics and criminal mapping. These add to the comfortability and the adaptable nature I have become accustomed to under the teaching of USF. I have learned to use many different software quickly at USF and I will be able to adapt and learn any software that is being utilized in a corporate setting.
I have utilized the career center at USF and plan to continue applying to internships until I secure one and a corporation that shares my commitment and ambition for information technology and cybersecurity. In conclusion, I have great aspirations for my future in technology and cybersecurity. I plan on outworking the people surrounding me and showing my abilities while continuing to learn and grow as an information professional. I have worked hard to complete my bachelor’s degree and I will continue to work hard to pursue my career aspirations and goals.
Andrew Kennedy 