Christian E. Vines Scholarship

First, I would like to comment on the death of Christian, even though I don’t know much about him. I know he was an amazing person and, if given more time, would amount to the world in many ways as he followed his dreams. Like Christian, I also have high ambitions for myself and believe my raison d'être lies in the Cybersecurity and Computer Forensics career path, and through the many technologies I will come to create, I will make the digital world a safer place. I have always been fascinated by the pieces of technology we use, the websites we continuously access daily, and how massive databases filled with lines of personal information are truly protected from outside threats. The last thing anyone would want to experience is their personal/financial data being accessed just because a corporation was the slightest bit vulnerable. I believe in never allowing such information to be easily accessible and minimizing every vulnerability imaginable to ensure company integrity. Especially because early on, I gained exposure to the technological world through many online games I’ve played, social media platforms I got introduced to, and navigation of the internet. As time passed, I always questioned how all these things implemented digital security into their foundation. As a senior in high school, I have truly made it apparent where my life is heading, and I do not doubt that I will continue to progress my technical toolbox as I transition into college. Even though I know college will be a rollercoaster of events, I’m not worried, as I won’t stop until I take the skills I learned and truly make an impact on the world. Using the skills gained, I want to put my time into developing new technologies that will enhance security and others to counter evolving threats. As the world of computers expands, implementations will need to be put in place to protect newly evolving technologies, and I want to dedicate my life to this. Especially as artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, these innovative concepts will have repercussions, introducing new security challenges, which, in time, I will be prepared to address. Now, I’m not saying that I will be able to prevent every virtual attack, and they will undoubtedly happen. Still, through my services and developed technologies, many fellow cybersecurity specialists can use them to aid in the issues they encounter, gradually improving global security. In conclusion, my journey of early exposure to technology has given me a clear sense of purpose. As I offer my condolences for the loss of Christian, a fellow Black/African American student with his dreams unrealized, I reflect on my aspirations in turn, keeping his legacy alive. With my chosen path of Cybersecurity and Computer Forensics, I will put my plans into action and contribute to making the digital world a safer place, even if it seems impossible.