Reflective Journal 2

My long-term goal is to secure a career in cybersecurity where I can develop my technical abilities and further my learning. I have a good foundation being an IT Systems Administrator for the Commonwealth Attorney's Office. While working in my current position I have developed skills in confidence in IT security and digital systems. After graduation, I hope to move into a more focused role, like a Security Engineer or Cyber Threat Analyst. Maybe even become a Chief Information Security Officer someday. Looking farther down the road, I want to shape the cybersecurity landscape, either through leadership, mentoring, or policy making I hope my life's work will make a lasting difference. At the time of my retirement, I would like to have left a legacy of improved cybersecurity awareness, a more secure digital infrastructure, and a new generation of professionals who were well-trained in good cyber hygiene.

The role of digital literacy in my career path is foundational. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and to keep pace with new threats, technologies, and methodologies, what I need is not just technical knowledge but also adaptability, critical thinking, and effective communication. These are the sorts of practices that help me and that I hope help others to analyze complex security issues, assess new technologies, and efficiently implement best practices. Fundamentally digital literacy is less about me being individually competent and more about the ability to educate. Human error continues to be one of our biggest vulnerabilities. If I can teach employees, colleagues, and future professionals to be more security aware, then I can help mitigate risks on a much larger scale.

One of my longstanding ambitions is to provide mentorship and instruction in cybersecurity to those who come after me. I already have some practice tending to the cybersecurity skills of less experienced personnel, first in the military and now at my current job. Part of leading in a digital space, I believe, is having the digital skills to do so. If I get into a situation where I have formal authority over the development of someone else's cybersecurity abilities, I plan to follow an instructional design model that emphasizes structured learning. Developing my ePortfolio has taught me that much in the same way, knowledge sharing is a digital literacy skill that can be used to lead by example.

Being digitally literate means more than simply being technologically savvy. It means being able to steer through the digital world and, in doing so, take on three responsibilities: to oneself, to share all that is known about the appearance, functionality, and operational security of devices and the data they process; to the organization one works for, and ensuring its devices and data are securely operational; and, last, to the profession. This involves preparing the next generation of the profession both to be good specialists and to understand the theory and principles that create good practices and habits.

Think about what you’re hoping to do after college. Consider your first job and where you want to be when you finish your career. How will being digitally literate affect your career path? Can you pass on the skills you’re learning in this course?