I’ve always loved technology.it’s what drives my curiosity. In 11th and 12th grade, I attended a technical high school where I focused on IT and hands-on tech skills. That experience confirmed my interest and set the foundation for my future. Now, I’m continuing my journey in college, studying cybersecurity and expanding my knowledge every day. Technology is constantly evolving, and I’m excited to be part of a field where I can grow, solve problems, and make a real impact. Cybersecurity is more than just a field of study it’s my passion. I love the challenge it brings, the constant evolution of threats, and the sense of purpose in protecting systems, data, and people. Every day in cybersecurity feels like solving a new puzzle, whether it's analyzing a potential breach, hardening a network, or exploring new ways to stop attacks before they happen. The blend of technology, problem-solving, and real-world impact makes this field incredibly rewarding. But behind the scenes, many of the tools and techniques we use are grounded in advanced mathematics, especially calculus. While cybersecurity is often seen as a field dominated by networking, programming, and ethical hacking, calculus plays a foundational role in many of the advanced techniques used to secure systems. Understanding calculus can give you deeper insight into the tools, algorithms, and systems you’ll encounter in the field. Calculus is fundamental to the development and analysis of cryptographic algorithms. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC): ECC, used in modern encryption (including SSL/TLS), is based on complex mathematical structures that involve calculus and algebraic geometry. Machine learning algorithms often rely on optimization techniques and gradient descent, which are built on differential calculus. If you're working on or analyzing AI-driven cybersecurity tools, calculus helps you understand how models learn from data and how to adjust weights in neural networks. Even in network analysis, calculus helps model data flow, identify patterns, and simulate attacks, which is vital for building stronger defenses. Having a solid grasp of the concepts will give you an edge, especially if you’re interested in, security research,advanced threat detection, and AI in cybersecurity. Even if you don’t directly use calculus every day, the logical thinking and problem-solving skills you gain from studying it are directly transferable to cybersecurity tasks. Loving cybersecurity means being curious, and calculus feeds that curiosity. It allows us to go beyond just using tools — to understand and even improve them. Whether designing secure systems, building smarter algorithms, or analyzing threats, calculus provides a deeper layer of insight.

My name is Dreden Heath. I am an African-American student, and I am proud to be the first in my family to attend college.I was born and partially raised in Harrisburg, Pa and then relocated to Paw Paw, WV at the age of 10. This accomplishment means a great deal to me and my loved ones, as it represents not only a personal achievement, but also a symbol of progress for my entire family. I grew up in a small, low-income community where opportunities were often limited and resources were scarce. Despite these challenges, my determination to succeed and create a better future for myself and those around me has always remained strong. I began my higher education journey by enrolling at James Ramsey Technical Institute, where I spent two years studying cybersecurity. During that time, I built a strong academic and practical foundation in a field I am truly passionate about. I developed key skills in network security, threat detection, and system defense, which further fueled my interest in information technology. Now, I am continuing my education at Fairmont University, where I am working toward a degree in Information Technology. This next step brings me closer to my long-term goal of becoming a cybersecurity expert who can contribute to both the corporate and public sectors by helping protect systems and data from cyber threats. Outside of academics, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. I believe that true success is not only measured by personal achievements, but also by the positive impact one makes in the lives of others. That’s why I volunteer regularly with my local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and support Little League teams in my neighborhood. I’ve learned that mentorship, encouragement, and community involvement can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people, especially those who may be facing the same barriers I once did. Through my journey, I’ve come to understand the importance of resilience, hard work, and service to others. These values have shaped me into the person I am today. I carry them with me in everything I do, and I plan to use them as guiding principles throughout my academic and professional career. I’m eager to continue growing, learning, and contributing—both in the tech world and in the communities that helped shape me. I know that by combining education, experience, and heart, I can help build a better, more inclusive future for everyone.

My name is Dreden Heath. I am an African-American student, and I am proud to be the first in my family to attend college. This accomplishment means a great deal to me and my loved ones, as it represents not only a personal achievement, but also a symbol of progress for my entire family. I grew up in a small, low-income community where opportunities were often limited and resources were scarce. Despite these challenges, my determination to succeed and create a better future for myself and those around me has always remained strong. I began my higher education journey by enrolling at James Ramsey Technical Institute, where I spent two years studying cybersecurity. During that time, I built a strong academic and practical foundation in a field I am passionate about. I developed key skills in network security, threat detection, and system defense, which further fueled my interest in information technology. Now, I am continuing my education at Fairmont University, where I am working toward a degree in Information Technology. This next step brings me closer to my goal of becoming a cybersecurity expert who can contribute to both the corporate and public sectors by helping protect systems and data from cyber threats. Outside of academics, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. I believe that true success is not only measured by personal achievements, but also by the positive impacts in the lives of others. That’s why I volunteer regularly with my local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and support Little League teams in my neighborhood. I’ve learned that mentorship, encouragement, and community involvement can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people, especially those who may be facing the same barriers I once did. Family is at the core of everything I do. Their support has fueled my ambition and kept me grounded throughout my journey. I strive to be a role model for my younger siblings and cousins, showing them that with hard work and persistence, anything is possible. I also value learning—especially when it comes to technology. I constantly seek out new advancements in cybersecurity, whether it’s through, reading tech blogs, or engaging with peers in the field. I find joy in understanding how systems work and how they can be improved to serve and protect people. Cybersecurity is essential in today’s world because it protects the systems, networks, and data that individuals, businesses, and governments rely on every day. With the increasing use of technology in nearly every aspect of life—from banking and healthcare to education and communication—sensitive information is constantly being transmitted and stored online. Without cybersecurity measures, this information becomes vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches, and identity theft. These threats can lead to financial loss, damage to reputation, and even national security risks. Cybersecurity is also crucial in maintaining trust between users and organizations, ensuring that digital services remain safe and reliable. As technology continues to advance, the demand for professionals who can defend against these threats becomes even more important to our society’s safety and progress. Through my journey, I’ve come to understand the importance of resilience, hard work, and service to others. These values have shaped me into the person I am today. I carry them with me in everything I do, and I plan to use them as guiding principles throughout my academic and professional career. I’m eager to continue growing, learning, and contributing—both in the tech world and in the communities that helped shape me. I know that by combining education, experience, and heart, I can help build a better, more inclusive future for everyone.

My name is Dreden Heath. I am an African-American student, and I am proud to be the first in my family to attend college. This accomplishment means a great deal to me and my loved ones, as it represents not only a personal achievement, but also a symbol of progress for my entire family. I grew up in a small, low-income community where opportunities were often limited and resources were scarce. Despite these challenges, my determination to succeed and create a better future for myself and those around me has always remained strong. I began my higher education journey by enrolling at James Ramsey Technical Institute, where I spent two years studying cybersecurity.my instructor, Mr.Odom was dedicated in seeing us each succeed not just in his class but in the future. During that time, I built a strong academic and practical foundation in a field I am truly passionate about. I developed key skills in network security, threat detection, and system defense, which further fueled my interest in information technology. Now, I am continuing my education at Fairmont University, where I am working toward a degree in Information Technology. This next step brings me closer to my long-term goal of becoming a cybersecurity expert who can contribute to both the corporate and public sectors by helping protect systems and data from cyber threats. Outside of academics, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. I believe that true success is not only measured by personal achievements, but also by the positive impact one makes in the lives of others. That’s why I volunteer regularly with my local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and support Little League teams in my neighborhood. I’ve learned that mentorship, encouragement, and community involvement can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people, especially those who may be facing the same barriers I once did. Through my journey, I’ve come to understand the importance of resilience, hard work, and service to others. These values have shaped me into the person I am today. I carry them with me in everything I do, and I plan to use them as guiding principles throughout my academic and professional career. I’m eager to continue growing, learning, and contributing—both in the tech world and in the communities that helped shape me. I know that by combining education, experience, and heart, I can help build a better, more inclusive future for everyone.

Sure! Here's your revised and expanded text, now with **over 409 words** while keeping your voice and message intact: --- My name is Dreden Heath. I am an African-American student, and I am proud to be the first in my family to attend college. This accomplishment means a great deal to me and my loved ones, as it represents not only a personal achievement, but also a symbol of progress for my entire family. I grew up in a small, low-income community where opportunities were often limited and resources were scarce. Despite these challenges, my determination to succeed and create a better future for myself and those around me has always remained strong. I began my higher education journey by enrolling at James Ramsey Technical Institute, where I spent two years studying cybersecurity. During that time, I built a strong academic and practical foundation in a field I am truly passionate about. I developed key skills in network security, threat detection, and system defense, which further fueled my interest in information technology. Now, I am continuing my education at Fairmont University, where I am working toward a degree in Information Technology. This next step brings me closer to my long-term goal of becoming a cybersecurity expert who can contribute to both the corporate and public sectors by helping protect systems and data from cyber threats. Outside of academics, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. I believe that true success is not only measured by personal achievements, but also by the positive impact one makes in the lives of others. That’s why I volunteer regularly with my local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and support Little League teams in my neighborhood. I’ve learned that mentorship, encouragement, and community involvement can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people, especially those who may be facing the same barriers I once did. Through my journey, I’ve come to understand the importance of resilience, hard work, and service to others. These values have shaped me into the person I am today. I carry them with me in everything I do, and I plan to use them as guiding principles throughout my academic and professional career. I’m eager to continue growing, learning, and contributing—both in the tech world and in the communities that helped shape me. I know that by combining education, experience, and heart, I can help build a better, more inclusive future for everyone.

My name is Dreden Heath. I am an African-American student, proud to be the first in my family to attend college. I grew up in a small low income. Community were opportunities were limited that my determination to succeed has always been strong. I spent two years at James Ramsey technical Institute studying cyber security building a strong foundation in a field I’m passionate about. now I am continuing my education at Fairmont University pursuing a degree in information technology.Outside of academics so I’m deeply committed to give them back to my community. I volunteer with the local PTO and Little League teams because I believe in the power of mentorship community support and helping the next generation succeed, my experiences have taught me the importance of resilience, hard work and service to others. I’m eager to continue my education and use my skills to uplift both my community and the tech world. Technology is helping local communities become better places to live by solving common problems and creating new opportunities. Tech has made it easy for people to stay in touch and share ideas. Social media, messaging apps, and online forums help neighbors, families, and friends connect quickly. Imagine sending a message to a whole neighborhood in seconds! That’s how tech brings people together. Homes and public areas are safer with the help of smart security systems. These include cameras, alarms, and apps that monitor neighborhoods. The Internet, telephones, cars, planes, children's toys, and other gadgets are examples of technology. These types of equipment have impacted society greatly. They have made the movement of goods and people easier and faster. The Internet and cellphones have eased the way people communicate and pass information. In conclusion, Technology significantly benefits society by improving communication, advancing healthcare, enhancing education, and driving economic growth. It also facilitates equality by providing access to resources and opportunities for all, regardless of their background. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the potential negative impacts like the digital divide, privacy concerns, and the need for responsible development and regulation. Impact technology is the proactive use of responsible technology to create or multiply positive impact and to facilitate your ability to build community. It can change the world for the better. Fostering online communities is an exponentially scalable way to transform the world. When people with shared values, behaviors, and resources come together in an online impact community, the knowledge each person shares multiplies.

Growing up as a young Black man in a mostly white neighborhood in a small town in West Virginia taught me early on about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Even though I was often one of the few African Americans in my school or community spaces, I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who treated me with kindness and respect. My experiences helped me understand that while race, background, or differences may exist, shared humanity and mutual respect can bring people together in powerful ways. Diversity is important to me because it brings different perspectives, experiences, and talents to the table. When people from various backgrounds come together, they create stronger communities and inspire new ideas. As someone who grew up in a hardworking, lower-class family, I know how important it is for every voice to be heard and valued, no matter where you come from. Diversity not only enriches education, but it also helps prepare students for the real world, where we work and live among people of all backgrounds. At college, I want to help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by being a positive example and an active participant. I plan to join or help organize student groups that celebrate different cultures and encourage open conversations about important issues. I want to create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected. Whether it’s mentoring younger students, participating in cultural events, or simply standing up for others when needed, I am committed to making my campus a welcoming place for all. I believe that promoting equity means making sure everyone has the resources and support they need to succeed, not just those who come from privilege. I will advocate for programs that lift up first-generation college students like me, as well as students from underrepresented communities. I will use my story and my voice to remind others that success should be within reach for anyone willing to work for it. Inclusion means making sure everyone feels like they belong, not just that they are allowed to be present. It’s about truly listening, valuing different life experiences, and working to break down barriers. I want to build real relationships with people from all walks of life and help foster a campus environment where differences are celebrated, not overlooked. As the first person in my family to go to college, I carry the hopes of generations before me. I want to use my education not just to better myself, but to lift others up, too. By promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, I hope to help create a future where everyone, no matter their background, feels empowered to chase their dreams just like I am chasing mine.