Steps from the journey
Google Cybersecurity Certificate
Coursera offers this certificate, which has gained significant credibility. At seven hours a week, it is a six-month course covering the following core aspects in the cyber domain: asset security, security engineering, communications and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and assessment and testing.
Mission
My first and second-year classes did not cover cybersecurity, so I took the initiative to earn this certificate. When related courses come, they will reinforce what I have learned.
Journey
To finish before the spring semester, I began during the winter break of 2024, studying morning and night. However, when the break ended, I was only halfway through. Despite that, I adapted my schedule and managed to finish in February 2025.
CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ offers a great way to expand and solidify on the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. It encompasses a wide range of areas in the field, like vulnerabilities, mitigation techniques, security hardening, security operations, and security management. It is highly recognized in the workforce as an entry-level certificate.
Mission
To advance my cybersecurity journey, I pursued this certificate over the summer of 2025. It provides a broad foundation for cybersecurity concepts, serving as a gateway to more advanced certifications.
Journey
I began the certification process in May and completed it by the end of the summer in 2025. I studied daily and used active learning strategies—such as connecting concepts, practicing active recall, and applying what I learned on my own devices and at my seasonal IT job. You can view the badge on Credly.
Upcoming:
THM SOC LVl 1
The TryHackMe SOC Level 1 path is designed to build the essential, job-ready Junior Security Analyst skills. It focuses on SOC workflows, dealing with alerts, incident triaging, and using SIEM and EDR solutions. Key topics covered include network traffic analysis, phishing analysis, threat analysis frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and monitoring both Windows and Linux endpoints for threats.
Mission
I plan to trek this path during the summer of 2026, using a similar strategy used for the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. I am committed to putting in daily study time to further my security knowledge base, applying what I learn in my home lab with experiments and projects.
Journey
The journey has not started yet! It will commence once summer break comes.