Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The National Dog Show. The AKC National Championship. Let me introduce you to the world of dog shows. For those who show dogs, the above shows are just some of the dog shows we strive to be able to attend. Westminster, as it’s affectionately called, is judged in February in New York. Parts of it are televised live, and then it is rerun again on network television. The National Dog Show is in Pennsylvania and televised on Thanksgiving Day, although the actual judging is several weeks before that. The AKC National Championship takes place in Florida in December and is usually seen on T.V. in a later month. Gaining a spot on television is just the end result of months – or more probably, years – of training. Which may seem like a long time to most. But for me, spending that much time with my dogs is a treasure. Dogs have an innate understanding of human wrongness and are unhesitatingly alert when that occurs. My Great Dane “Gimme” is an example of this. Gimmie and I traveled throughout the Midwest. She was a show dog, and we trained several times a week for that. But beyond that, she also walked beside me. Slowly and carefully, as I sometimes do, so I could hold on to her. As I went down the stairs, she accompanied me. She knew I needed help even if I did not. Gimmie was the most uncomfortable dog to sleep next to. She would wake me up throughout the night for no good reason that I could understand. It was not until years later, after I saw a sleep therapist, that I realized she was likely waking me up when I stopped breathing. It is very rare when I get headaches, but if I did, it was always Gimmie curled right next to me until I felt better. Dogs are so much more than just creatures with four legs. They are understanding, kind souls that love to be with their people. Their adoration of their humans is almost comparable to that of a human child to parent. In the end, dog showing is not just my hobby, but a bonding experience between me and my dogs. The endless days of training, of teaching Gimmie to stand and stay were more than just training sessions. It is a way to spend time with the animals that mean the world to me.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The National Dog Show. The AKC National Championship. Let me introduce you to the world of dog shows. For those who show dogs, the above shows are just some of the dog shows we strive to be able to attend. Westminster, as it’s affectionately called, is judged in February in New York. Parts of it are televised live, and then it is rerun again on network television. The National Dog Show is in Pennsylvania and televised on Thanksgiving Day, although the actual judging is several weeks before that. The AKC National Championship takes place in Florida in December and is usually seen on T.V. in a later month. Gaining a spot on television is just the end result of months – or more probably, years – of training. Which may seem like a long time to most. But for me, spending that much time with my dogs is a treasure. Dogs have an innate understanding of human wrongness and unhesitatingly alert when that occurs. My Great Dane “Gimme” is an example of this. Gimmie and I traveled throughout the Midwest. She was a show dog, and we trained several times a week for that. But beyond that, she also walked beside me. Slowly and carefully, as I sometimes do, so I could hold on to her. As I went down the stairs, she accompanied me. She knew I needed help even if I did not. Gimmie was the most uncomfortable dog to sleep next to. She would wake me up throughout the night for no good reason that I could understand. It was not until years later, after I saw a sleep therapist, that I realized she was likely waking me up when I stopped breathing. It is very rare when I get headaches, but if I did, it was always Gimmie curled right next to me until I felt better. In the end, dog showing is not just my hobby, but a bonding experience between me and my dogs. The endless days of training, of teaching Gimmie to stand and stay were more than just teaching sessions. It is a way to spend time with the animals that mean the world to me.

I am proudly Generation X. And I am proud that I have always enjoyed school. Even in high school, when some teachers had the temerity to tell me that I would never be as good as my three siblings, I still enjoyed school. But after I graduated high school, I found that without the support of my parents, college was likely to be a dream. I had a steady job, even if it was not a career. I watched from the sidelines as my older sister got her bachelor’s degree. As young adults are prone to do, I moved on from that first job and eventually found a career. A good company that promoted from within and was willing to train. I had no college education, but I worked hard at that career. I then watched my older brother go back and finish his bachelor’s degree, decades after he started. And I watched my younger sister get her bachelor’s degree, years after graduating high school. I speculated that my career would probably do better if I had a degree of some sort. And this time around, I was better prepared. I knew what I wanted and how to get there. And I paid for it myself. Along the way, however, my career got upended. The division I worked in was sold to a rival company. The new manager was in another state and, in her own words, had no desire to visit my state. We did not get along. In the end, I was not sorry when I was informed that I had been laid off. I continued forward nonetheless and completed my Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management in 2015. I used that degree and helped start a mobile dog grooming business. When we decided to move to another state, we moved the business here and it continues to do well. But I wanted more. I wanted to get back to where I really enjoyed myself. I wanted to go back to computer work. My knowledge at this point was six years out of date and in the world of computers, that is ancient. And I had seen my three siblings gain degrees – even at older ages. Enter University of Phoenix. I chose this school because of the ability to transfer actual job knowledge and skills towards school course credit. In the fall of 2020, I entered back into the world of the student. I chose a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology with a certificate in Cybersecurity and I am about to embark upon a new career with more I.T. knowledge behind it. I am confident in my future success. I am excited to learn what is new and changed within the world of the computer. I am motivated because I love my work with computers. I have the support of family and friends. I want to use my new knowledge to help move the United States forward into a new age of technology. The world is my oyster and I want to grab it!

When I first saw "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope", I was immediately enthralled. I saw it in the theater the weekend it premiered and it was amazing! For my young self, it had everything: Enough action and escapades to satisfy my inner adventurer, comedy to satisfy my inner jester, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford to satisfy my inner dreamer, and robots and a galaxy far, far away to satisfy my inner geek. But most importantly, it lived up to its name “A New Hope”. It is the story of hope and of continuing when all seems lost. In the beginning, the three adventurers did not know they were destined to save the world. They were just three people from different walks of life. But against all odds they were strong, they formed a bond, and they did not let each other down. In today’s world of chaos, it is a reminder that no matter who you are, you can accomplish great things. You do not need to be a superhero, or even a superstar, to reach your goals and beyond. That power is within all of us if we just look for it.

As an older woman, I have "been around the block" a few times as they say. I have tried several different fields but my heart has always stayed with computers. When I realized there was an entire field devoted to Cybersecurity, I knew that's where I wanted to be. Being at the forefront of technology to stop criminals sounds like a job for a young person though. But I've always loved technology and spent almost 25 years in IT. Before that, my Dad worked at IBM. Technology doesn't scare me and I embrace the challenge. In 2012, I embraced the challenge of achieving my AAS in Business and I completed that goal in 2015. Now, I've started a BS in Cybersecurity at University of Phoenix that I expect to complete in 2023. Challenge accepted! As a fulltime student and fulltime employee, I struggle to find the time and ways to make a difference. I want to make a difference. I pay it forward as much as I can afford by buying someone else's lunch, or coffee. I believe that a career in Cybersecurity will help me do better things for the world. Currently, I work as an inhome caregiver for seniors. They want to be able to connect with their families who may live in other states. They have cell phones and computers that sometimes they can barely understand to use. Many are the times do I see calls and emails dedicated to scamming our older citizens. Phishing attempts they are called. And our elderly, and more vulnerable, population falls for it over and over. But phishing attempts are just one of the ways a career in Cybersecurity can help. The elderly are at risk for ID theft and  ransomware attacks as well. Our senior population is at risk whenever they answer a phone call and give out the social security number to someone who said they were from the social security department. They are at risk when they click on a link inside an email they think is from Amazon. The elderly don't always understand the risk and they are trusting. As a member of a Cybersecurity team, it would be my goal to ensure that these attacks - especially those directed toward our senior citizens - are stopped; and that the perpetrators are found and prosecuted. This can be done by working for banks and other corporations to tighten security so their customers' information doesn't get stolen. By actively pursuing the bad guys through cyber forensics until they are found. To change the laws as needed so that these criminals understand that every action has consequences. But it also needs to be done with outreach programs to the elderly to teach them that there are bad people in the world. That the phone call from their grandchild may not be so innocuous. And it has to be done in a way that the older generation doesn't lose their innocence. Their child-like wonder that a beautiful day is just a beautiful day. That is a test I'm willing to embrace.

My father worked for IBM and I remember him bringing home the computer cards that were in use at the time. I used to make houses of cards from them. Ever since, I have always liked working with computers. Early in my working career, I started with a health insurance company in the mailroom. I made it a goal to eventually be in the programming department and I achieved that goal within 5 years. Unfortunately, when the programming department was cut back, I was laid off. After more than twenty years, I found myself at loose ends - as mainframe programming was not in high demand anymore. As soon as I decided to go back to school it was an easy choice to stay in IT/computers. Finding the exact right career took some soul searching but I eventually found Cyber Security. It caught my attention and I applied to the University of Phoenix. Although I am just stepping onto the path of a Bachelors's degree in Cyber Security, I know it will be a great new career. One of the bigger problems of today is company computers being hacked and sensitive information being stolen. Large and small companies, banks, even Amazon have all been affected by someone virtually breaking into their computers and stealing customer information. Companies need to be one step ahead of the hackers. I feel that a career in Cyber Security will push me to the forefront of helping solve this problem. With an education fresh with current ideas, I can enter the job market with concepts and theories at the ready to help combat this challenge. Like just about everyone in today's world, I have been a victim of these hacking successes and it doesn't just make me angry. It makes me want to do something about it. When I think of Cyber Security, I think about all the ways criminals are currently illegally accessing information. Phishing schemes through email, phone calls, and hacking into computers. What new ways will they come up with? What new ways will companies find to stop them? And companies will continue to find new ways to defeat them. I want to be a part of that surge. The surge to defeat the criminals. What better way to defeat the hackers than to fight them on their own turf? A career in Cyber Security will get me well on my way to helping prevent these criminals from stealing honest people's information.

Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was working for an insurance company and yet it was over 6 years ago that I was laid off. Since then, I have bounced around trying to figure out that age old question "What do you want to do with your life?" I am currently, and have been for the last two years, an in home caregiver. While the job can be satisfying, I never thought it would be a career. As I looked around, I found several jobs in IT that I thought could be interesting but Cyber Security really caught my attention. I love computers and for sure the world of computers is growing. The need for technicians to keep that world safe will only be growing. So I applied - an was accepted to - the University of Phoenix Cyber Security BA program. Although I've only just just started, this is what I am currently working on to hopefully have the career of my dreams. The grant will be used towards my school fees as I move forward in my classes towards my end goal.

When I got Fozzie I sure didn't know what I was getting into. But I bet he did! He absolutely loves getting dirty and if he can't find a hole already dug, he'll create one. As a long hair Saint Bernard, and still a puppy, he needs to learn to love baths as much as he loves getting dirty! Fozzie and I can be found on Instagram @KAKudron.