I've been drawn to computers for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would sneak into my sister's room to play Space Cadet Pinball and customize her cursors and wallpapers—much to her frustration. Throughout my teenage years, I ran Linux, became the go-to "computer guy" for my family, and even considered pursuing a degree in IT. But life took me in a different direction. I spent several years working in various trades and even built a career as a dog trainer, but I never felt truly fulfilled.

In 2022, I decided to make a change. I dove back into IT and soon landed an IT Support role at a small consultancy. As the sole IT operator, I was responsible for designing, building, and securing the company's infrastructure—especially critical given the sensitive nature of the data we handled. This experience ignited my passion for information security, and I haven't looked back since.

Since then, I've earned multiple industry certifications, completed an intensive nine-month cybersecurity bootcamp, and worked on a range of projects, both personally and professionally. I've also begun consulting for local businesses, helping them secure their networks. Now, I'm focused on making the next big leap—transitioning into a full-time role in Information Security.