Studying cybersecurity in school has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me. As someone who has always been interested in technology and the ways it can be used to protect individuals and organizations, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity was an obvious choice for me. However, the path to earning this degree has not been without its obstacles. One of the biggest challenges I have faced while attending school as a student with a hearing impairment has been communication. In high school, I got hearing aids and I struggled to adjust to the new technology and to understand what was being said in class. A college class is very different and it felt like I had to relearn it all. When I first began using hearing aids, I was worried about how I would pay for the technology and the ongoing expenses associated with maintaining and repairing them. I was relieved to discover that my insurance covered a significant portion of the cost of my hearing aids. This helped to alleviate some of the financial burden and made it easier for me to focus on my studies. Despite these challenges, I have persevered and have been able to make the most of my education. I have worked hard to understand the material being taught and to find ways to apply it in real-world situations. This has required me to be self-motivated and to seek out additional resources and support when needed. Today, I am able to confidently use my hearing aids in class and feel much more connected to the material being taught. I know that I still have a lot to learn and that there will be challenges ahead, but I am determined to continue working hard and to make the most of my education. Once I finish my degree, I plan to use my knowledge and skills to help organizations of all sizes secure their systems and protect their sensitive data. I am particularly interested in working with small and medium-sized businesses, as these companies often have limited resources and may be at a higher risk for cyber attacks. In addition to working in the field, I also plan to continue learning and staying up-to-date on the latest developments in cybersecurity. I believe that this field is constantly evolving and that it is important to stay current in order to be effective at my job. Overall, studying cybersecurity has been a challenging but rewarding journey for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to study this important and growing field, and I am excited to put my knowledge and skills to work helping others protect themselves from cyber threats.

I came into this world three months earlier than expected. My twin sister and I were born on August 28th, 2003. Being physically delayed, I received at-home services for physical and occupational therapy starting at six months old. At age one, my arms could not support me, so I was only at a commando crawl. After numerous doctor appointments, I was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy. Over the next 10 years, I wore an Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) ranging in assorted colors and lengths to help combat my condition. Middle schoolers tend to ask more questions than elementary students about my AFO’S. I always felt judged, misunderstood, and insecure by all my peers' prying questions. I hid my AFO’s with bell-bottom jeans, but you could still see a large part of my ankle whilst sitting. I would often hear, “What’s on your legs?” and “Why do you walk like that?” followed by students imitating my walk. Also, being socially awkward did not help because I would not defend myself. In addition, I was also clumsy and would sometimes trip over myself. I needed assistance from people or objects getting back up because of the sturdiness of my AFO’s and my weak body. As a result of most people not seeming to have a positive reaction to me, I immersed myself into the fantasy of reading. Reading helped me escape from actual people, however, the only person I could turn towards was my twin sister. Arelynn made everything easier because she understood the feeling of being left out and judged. We were the only people we could relate to. After I got out of my AFOs, I felt brand new and was ready to leave the despairing grade six behind me. With further thought, Clairo’s song Alewife reminds me and my sister’s relationship. As I previously stated, Arelynn was and still is my anchor. In the lyrics, “I met you by surprise. You were hangin' out all the time. But you know you saved me from doin' something to myself that night.” It makes me ponder the thought that Arelynn and I were not supposed to be twins and it was a surprise. Another lyrical phrase is, “It's been so long, and you've been my sister all along. But you know I'll be alright, eighth grade was never that tight.” This part of the song reminds me of how being a 13-year-old eighth grader is not something I want to remember, but Arelynn made it bearable. In short, the song Alewife resonates with me because it keeps me grounded and comfortable. It is also a reminder that I am not alone. In the next few years of grade seven through nine, I had to regularly attend physical therapy sessions to help my reverting legs. As you can imagine, this took quite a toll on my young mind and mental health as I was always believing there was something wrong with me that could never be fixed. I was quite lucky to have a supportive family who never gave up on me even when I did. More recently, at 18, I am still going to and finished another set of physical therapy sessions. I know this is something I will have to do for the rest of my life, and I am okay with that. My cerebral palsy is extremely meaningful to me because it is a part of who I am. My parents helped me understand my potential and assisted me in finding the strength to prove to myself that I am more than just my disorder.