The Next Up: Hacked, But Not Defeated: A Newcomer’s Fight to Break Into Cybersecurity
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The journey into IT, Tech, or Cybersecurity isn’t always straightforward, and no one knows that better than the students currently grinding their way through it. The Next Up: Tech Students Sound Off is a recurring feature where we tap into the minds of up-and-coming tech professionals—those still in the classroom, learning the ropes, and figuring out their path.
We ask students real questions about why they chose IT, Tech, or Cybersecurity, what needs to change in tech education, and what advice actually helps (and what doesn’t). No fluff, no corporate talk—just real perspectives from the next generation of tech pros.
What made you choose IT, cybersecurity, or tech? Was it a passion, a great professor, a cool hack, or just job security?
I chose cybersecurity because I have a natural passion for stopping criminals. What made me change careers and finally take the big step of pursuing cybersecurity was witnessing the damage someone did by hacking my daughter and the effort it took to rebuild everything.
If someone handed you a magic wand to fix one thing about tech education, what would you change to better prepare students for the workforce?
Offer more hands-on experience and a true breakdown of the different avenues of cybersecurity. There are so many paths to take, but as a newcomer, it is overwhelming when you are new and not sure what steps to take or what path to take to get there. Some students have the right people helping them, but not all students have that assistance, so it would be extremely helpful if maybe there was a way to help students decide what would best fit them. When you do not have the proper resources or contacts, it can somewhat hold you back compared to other students who do have those resources.
I chose cybersecurity because I have a natural passion for stopping criminals.
We always hear about “the skills gap” in tech. Have you felt that gap in your own experience? What skills or knowledge do you wish you had before applying for jobs or internships?
I wish I had more of a technical background, to help stand out compared to other students who have a degree.
What’s been your biggest challenge so far in breaking into the industry—landing an internship, networking, getting certifications, or something else?
Networking has been a major challenge for me. I have contacted dozens of people to help point me in the right direction. I have contacted potential mentors asking questions and either I do not receive a response at all or I am hit with an automatic email starting to pay $250 for a 30-minute Q&A.
Being new to this industry and not knowing how things work has been discouraging when trying to learn how to network in this industry.
There are so many paths to take, but as a newcomer, it is overwhelming when you are new and not sure what steps to take or what path to take to get there.
I have asked my school about the best certifications for someone without any experience, and the class that was explained to me to be a great fit for someone with zero experience, has been extremely tough. The reason being is when I actually spoke to cybersecurity professionals, I was told I should not have started with the class my school recommended, mainly because you have to have a certain skill set and knowledge of IT.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received as a student pursuing tech? And what’s the worst? (We need to call out the bad advice too!)
Worst Advice
👎You are wasting your time if you are not willing to get a degree.
👎You will need years of experience for an "entry-level" position.
Best Advice
👍 Forget what she said, this can absolutely be done without a degree and to not give up.
💡
Forget what she said, this can absolutely be done without a degree
The tech industry is evolving fast—AI, cybersecurity threats, cloud computing, and beyond. Which trends or technologies excite you the most, and which ones make you nervous?
AI and Cybersecurity threats seem exciting to me.
Cloud makes me nervous because it is challenging.
Brittany Lowe has over two decades in various administrative titles, her current role as Florida Branch Administrator at Mitsubishi Electric Elevators & Escalators is the latest chapter in her commitment to operational excellence. At Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Hillsborough County Code Enforcement, she was honored to learn skills in local government, payroll processing tasks, human resources tasks, accounts receivables, and payables processing, which has powered her efficiency-driven mission at Mitsubishi Electric, Elevators and Escalators. Problem-solving and yearly training on PII, SPII, Phishing, and most importantly confidentiality at my prior and current employer, which has led to my drive to become a Certified Cloud Professional. My recent certification in Cybersecurity Fundamentals parallels our company's value of innovation and security. As a Florida Notary, former Deputy Clerk, and Branch Administrator, I have a very high standard of ethics that mirror Security Ethics in Cybersecurity. Confidentiality, Privacy Protections, and Laws, in ethics are what I strive for, while having a heavy background in protecting PII and SPII, to compliance with our dealings, and ensuring our team's success aligns with our organizational culture and goals.
