Throughout my academic journey as a Cybersecurity major at Old Dominion University, I have developed skills that are both technical and interdisciplinary. My classes, labs, work experiences, and personal projects have shaped how I analyze problems, communicate ideas, and approach challenges in cybersecurity. After reviewing my coursework and artifacts, three major skills stand out as the strongest representation of my readiness for the field. These skills are cybersecurity proficiency, programming ability, and communication. Each one has grown through practice and each one plays a meaningful role in my development as a future cybersecurity professional.

Cybersecurity Skills

Cybersecurity is the core of my academic foundation, and many of my artifacts reflect my understanding of system security, threat analysis, and network assessment. One major artifact supporting this skill is my system security lab work in Linux and Windows environments. These labs required me to harden systems, manage permissions, and identify vulnerabilities from both defensive and offensive viewpoints. This helped strengthen my ability to interpret system behavior and protect resource

Another artifact demonstrating cybersecurity skill is my network analysis experience using Wireshark. These labs taught me how to examine packet data, interpret protocols, and recognize unusual traffic patterns. Understanding network behavior is essential in detecting intrusions and troubleshooting issues, and this artifact represents my growth in recognizing how systems communicate across networks.

A third artifact showcasing this skill is my hands-on use of tools such as Metasploit, John the Ripper, and pfSense. Completing controlled exploitation tasks and configuration assignments helped me understand how adversaries think while reinforcing ethical guidelines. These artifacts collectively demonstrate that I can analyze systems, identify issues, and apply security principles in practical scenarios.

Programming Skills

Programming has been an important part of my academic development and supports how I approach problems logically and efficiently. One artifact demonstrating this skill is the encryption programming assignment in which I implemented AES and RSA and built custom cipher functions in Python. This project strengthened my understanding of how encryption works and how secure communication is maintained.

Another artifact reflecting my programming strength is the scripting work completed in Python and Bash. These scripts allowed me to automate tasks, troubleshoot issues, and interact with systems more efficiently. Through this work, I learned how valuable automation is in cybersecurity, especially when handling repetitive or time-sensitive tasks.

A third artifact connected to this skill is my SQL and database coursework. Working with queries and analyzing structured data taught me how information is stored, retrieved, and protected. Together, these artifacts show that my programming ability extends across several languages and applies directly to cybersecurity operations and analysis.

Communication and Professional Skills

Communication has been essential throughout my academic and work experiences. One artifact that represents this skill is my resume, which has developed through instructor feedback and refinement. Creating a polished resume required me to present my experiences clearly, highlight the most relevant skills, and reflect the professionalism expected in the cybersecurity field

Another artifact demonstrating communication skill is the writing produced in courses involving cyber law, policy, and interdisciplinary research. These assignments required me to explain complex concepts in clear language and support my arguments with evidence. This strengthened my ability to communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

A third artifact showing this skill is my volunteer and peer support work, where I helped others with IT troubleshooting and computer literacy. This experience helped me become more patient, clear, and adaptable when explaining technology. Strong communication is critical in cybersecurity because professionals must brief teams, write reports, coordinate with different departments, and document findings accurately. My artifacts reflect that I can operate confidently in these areas.

Conclusion

Each artifact in my portfolio highlights a part of my growth as a cybersecurity student and future professional. My cybersecurity skills show my ability to analyze systems and understand threats. My programming work demonstrates logical reasoning and technical creativity. My communication skills reveal my ability to collaborate, explain ideas, and maintain professionalism in fast-paced environments. Together, these experiences show that I am prepared for consulting, operations, and other cybersecurity roles. The interdisciplinary nature of my degree has helped me become adaptable, analytical, and ready to contribute meaningfully to the cybersecurity field as I continue on my career path.