I transitioned into Cybersecurity for Pensioners....found SOC along the way.

For as long as I could remember, my mom had one personal prayer point as a civil servant; TO RECEIVE HER GRATUITY IN GOOD HEALTH. So when I briefly heard the story of how an aged pensioner got scammed of his pension, I was worried...FOR MY MOM. And then I realized, most of these pensioners are still in the dark when it comes to staying safe online and so, I transitioned into cybersecurity.

Months into it, I realized Cybersecurity was beyond phishing, vishing, or smishing. It was deeper and I also went deeper because now, this is not just about pensioners, but also about making individuals and organizations stay safe.

My journey has been a bittersweet one because it was mostly a self-learning process and I questioned my decision to transition when things got tough. Two consolations for me? My mom and the realization that every niche in tech is hard, so CHOOSE YOUR HARD and stick to it.

I am still growing, learning, unlearning and relearning, why? Cybersecurity is an evolving landscape. What was not a threat yesterday can turn out to be the biggest threat tomorrow.

I have participated in different internships to take me a step further from theoretical learning. My recently concluded 13 weeks internship with Girls In Security opened my eyes to truly understand what is expected of a SOC analyst. Those internships stretched me and I have grown during the stretching period.

Before choosing a niche, know your WHY. This is because every niche has that one stage where you start to question your choice but your WHY will keep you going regardless.