Whether you’re a continuing student or going back to college to learn a new field, the thought of attending can be exciting and/or mentally exhausting. Sometimes, we are up countless nights completing our assignments with little to no restful sleep; or we have to sacrifice our weekends to meet a deadline. Balancing our education and daily activities can be very challenging. It is important that we as students, manage our activities accordingly. Preparing ourselves to be successful in our pathway does not just include completing our degree, but striving to be excellent.
One way to achieve that goal is to join your school’s information security or IT related club. Typically, members/officers of the club have been a part of it for several semesters and have an upper hand on the knowledge of the curriculum and activities at the school. They are there to guide and assist you in your educational and professional development. Choosing an instructor for a course can be a shot in the dark, but understanding who teaches the best from your peers will provide a glimpse on what is to be expected. Another valuable aspect that a club may offer is tutoring from students who have been through the thick and thin. Some things we may learn fast, while others may be very challenging, which leads me to cyber competitions.
Cyber competitions provide real world skills and gives you a safe environment to test your capabilities. Whether you’re a beginner or professional, it is opens to all walks of life. Competitions like the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) and the National Cyber League (NCL) provides a “competitive environment to assess a student’s depth of understanding and operational competency.” It is very “engaging, entertaining, measurable, and scalable methods of validating skill sets to enlist a new generation of cybersecurity professionals.” Employers understand the value of these competitions and look for students with this experience. It aids greatly in the ability to get your resume to the top of the list.
Getting academic support from your school for your club and its cyber related activities is equally important. Communicate to your Instructor and the Dean of the program the value of your investments. Getting senior management’s support and approval, just like in an organizational working environment is key. This will aid in alleviating any future hurdles or barriers that your club may come across. Work with the Student Government Association (SGA) at your campus so they can be familiar with your club standings. October is Security Awareness Month. Try to work with SGA to create a security awareness campaign across your campus, which will display your club in a positive manner. Attend any Advisory Board meetings that are related to your program. Typically, there are student board positions available. Learning who the key members are will help when your club needs support. Navigating the political plane is a slippery slope, but it is a handy skill to acquire.
References
CCDC Mission. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.nationalccdc.org/index.php/competition/about-ccdc
The NCL Mission. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.nationalcyberleague.org/
