Week 4 Learning Journal

 Part One: Set Your Educational Goals

Regarding my educational goals at CSUMB, I aim to earn my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a strong GPA. As I mentioned previously, I aspire to specialize in Cybersecurity and, hopefully, attend a reputable university that offers a respected Master’s degree program, such as the University of California, Berkeley. I also want to create projects to add to my GitHub portfolio. I also want to become proficient in languages such as Python, since it is commonly used, specifically in cybersecurity.

Additionally, I want to pursue certifications that will help me stand out from others, like CompTIA Security+, to start. Obtaining the Certified Ethical Hacker certification will help me demonstrate my knowledge. I can picture myself obtaining all these certifications, degrees, and knowledge, and also adding my projects to my portfolio. Ultimately, I must stay on top of the constantly changing world to effectively adjust to any changes. 


Part Two: Set Your Career Goals

I am currently pursuing a job with the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) that involves working with data, specifically as a purchase technician. My responsibilities will include organizing data. I want to pursue a job in IT, as it is the most direct route to building a career in cybersecurity. My plan after securing a job with FUSD is to stay there for a while, build a good reputation, and as soon as an opportunity arises in the field, I want to take it. 

Looking ahead a few years, I am on the right path to become a cybersecurity auditor and earn at least $80,000 a year by the time I am 30 years old. I want to be a person who can be trusted and makes others feel safe, and I am someone they look up to for that kind of service. 


Part Three: Take a wild guess of your percentile of the ETS Computer Science test

If I were to take the ETS computer science test in 18 months, I would expect to score between the 60th and 70th percentile. I am proficient in logical reasoning, but I still need to develop my skills in discrete mathematics and networking. 

I still need to learn a lot, do consistent reviews, and build projects. If I were to do those things, I could probably do better than I expect. 


Part Four: Keep Up With Your Learning Journal.

This week has been tiresome; I haven't had as much time as expected to work on homework and watch the required videos. I liked the material about controlling my career, as it helps me reflect that I am the only one in control of my professional development. 

The salary article reminded me that it is good to break big goals into smaller, specific actions. I feel challenged when it comes to the ETS. I can do better than the 60th-70th percentile if I dedicate myself to it. 

Comments

  1. Jose CaicedoJune 3, 2025 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Maria,

    I really liked your post. It makes me happy to see how focused you are on cybersecurity—that’s the field I’m into as well. You’re setting yourself up for success with your goals, especially with Python, certifications, and your GitHub projects.

    I think starting at FUSD is a smart move, and I have no doubt you’ll hit that $80k goal. You’re determined, and that shows.

    We should totally go to DefCon together next year. I think you’d have a blast and pick up a ton of ideas.

    Keep it up, sis. You’re doing great.

    Jose

    ReplyDelete
  2. Taylor FarnerJune 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM

    Hi Maria,
    It seems like you are definitely on the right track. I found having a specific, tangible place to pursue, like you have with FUSD, is always more encouraging and motivating than "getting a cybersecurity job" somewhere.
    I also felt pretty intimidated by the ETS Computer Science test outline, but I'm optimistic about where we'll be by the time this program is over.
    Best of luck, you seem to be on the right track for your goals.
    Taylor

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2 Learning Journal Post

Image
Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy My top 3 study skills, in which I believe I am good at, are thinking skills, getting the main idea, and extracting important details. Why do I say this?  Well, I think you develop thinking skills from experience. The article says that everyone has thinking skills, but not everyone uses them correctly. My response to this is that I cannot be scared of dead ends; I have to be scared of not thinking there is no way out. Identifying the main idea from anything is crucial, especially being around a high-paced environment. After 22 years, I believe I have learned to do a decent job when I have to figure out the central idea or concept. Meaning that I can focus on what is more relevant.  This goes hand in hand with extracting important details , good note taking is mentioned, I like to organize ideas on bullet points in a way that I organize what I hear from what I think. I believe I do a good job with that I am weak when it comes t...
Read more

Industry Expert Interview – Exploring Career Paths and Industry Trends

  Interviewee: William Kerney Institution: Clovis Community College  Interviewer: M. Camila Caicedo Date: 3 June 2025 Duration: 30 min Can you tell me about your academic and professional background? Professor Kerney attended UC San Diego and obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Computer Science from there. As for his professional career, he worked for a defense contractor developing Virtual Reality applications and video games for several years, and then worked in various departments at UC San Diego, utilizing his computer science skills. After graduation, he worked on Virtual Reality educational programs and, after traveling around the country to train teachers on its use, transitioned into full-time teacher education with his own company. He also did a lot of freelance grant writing and computer science consulting. What made you want to pursue a career in computer science? Professor Kerney has always had a passion for technology, and he has known since secon...
Read more