Kyle Lam’s story is deeply inspiring. He was someone who embodied curiosity, generosity, and a love for building creative solutions. The description of his “hacker spirit” resonates with me because it mirrors the mindset I try to bring to my own journey in technology. Like Kyle, I believe technology is not just about what cannot be done but about imagining new ways to make it possible. As an undergraduate student majoring in cybersecurity, I have found joy in moments when I was able to delight others with problem-solving. One example was when I set up a Discord server for my peers and created automated systems using bots. The bots could track deleted messages, enforce community rules, and prevent spamming. While these features were built into the platform, what mattered most was how I learned to configure, customize, and combine them in ways that served my community’s needs. It required trial and error, patience, and creativity. Seeing everyone’s appreciation when the system worked smoothly was rewarding. It reminded me of the importance of using technical skills to make life easier for others. That experience was my first real example of tinkering, and it taught me how exciting it feels to transform an idea into something functional. As I explored further, I started experimenting with Python programming. At first, it was intimidating, but I quickly realized how much coding feels like solving math equations. Defining variables, writing conditions, and watching the output unfold gave me the same satisfaction as working through an algebra problem. I began building small scripts that automated simple tasks on my computer. These projects were not groundbreaking, but they gave me confidence and nurtured my curiosity. I learned that tinkering is not always about building something huge. Sometimes it is about small adjustments that make a big difference in daily life. Tinkering also taught me resilience. There were many times when my code failed or a bot did not work the way I expected. In those moments, I had to step back, rethink my approach, and try again. That process helped me develop patience and persistence. These two qualities are essential in both technology and life. Kyle Lam’s legacy reflects exactly why I love being in this field. His passion for exploring new technology, his humility, and his generosity toward others are qualities I want to carry forward in my own career. To me, the hacker spirit means combining curiosity and compassion to build something meaningful. I hope to honor Kyle’s memory by pursuing technology with the same creativity, persistence, and joy that he embodied.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you how my grandma often gets scam texts and doesn’t always understand technology, which worries me deeply. My ambition is to use cybersecurity knowledge to protect people like her from these threats by creating tools or programs that prevent scams and educate vulnerable community members. I’m driven to keep learning and to be part of organizations that advocate for digital safety, especially for older adults and those less familiar with tech. Through this, I want to make a real impact by helping my community stay safe and empowered online. Ultimately, I hope my work uplifts others, turning my passion for cybersecurity into meaningful change.

One project I worked on that I really enjoyed was designing a student class registration system using pseudocode. This was part of a semester-long assignment in one of my first programming classes. It made me think like a real programmer. The goal was to create a program where students could search for classes, register or drop them, see their schedules, and get a bill based on the classes they signed up for. Later on, I added new features like checking work hours for part-time students and saving student and class information using arrays. Even though the project was simple, it taught me the basics of programming, how different parts of a system work together, and how small changes can affect everything. I especially liked making sample data and watching how the different parts of the program worked together like a real system. Finishing the project made me feel proud and showed me how coding can solve real problems in everyday life. This project also helped me see that I want to work in technology, especially in cybersecurity. What I like most about technology is how much good it can do. It can connect people, make things better, and protect others. Cybersecurity is about keeping data, networks, and systems safe from people who want to cause harm. I think cybersecurity workers are like quiet heroes who keep the digital world safe, even if most people don’t see their work. That is important to me and makes me excited to keep learning. Technology is always changing, and that makes it exciting. There is always something new to learn, and every problem is a chance to get better. Even when I run into problems, I like figuring out what went wrong and fixing it. That process has taught me to be patient, curious, and keep trying. This student registration project was simple, but it showed me how much I like building something from the beginning and making it work. It gave me a small taste of solving real problems with logic and creativity. As I keep learning, I know I will face bigger challenges. I am ready for them because I want to grow, learn more, and help others. My dream is to become a cybersecurity expert who not only protects information and systems but also helps people feel safe in today’s digital world. This project was only the start, but it sparked a passion I want to follow for a long time.