Aimm’s Affection 4 Internet Protection
Greetings and Salutations!
My name is Aimm, and it looks like you have stumbled upon my incoherent musings as a black woman who has become obsessed with Information Technology. This blog will detail my journey throughout this field, sharing with you my ups and downs, the ins and outs, insights, and frustrations of this ever-changing landscape.
The first thing that inspired me to learn about Information Technology was a movie Sandra Bullock played in, “The Net.” As a child, this movie only piqued my interest, and I started to pay attention to how technical devices worked. During this time, many things would pique my interest because of movies. Another movie that made me believe I could do anything was “Contact” with Jodie Foster. From Astronomer to Information Technology, I knew that whatever I decided to do when I grew up would deal with computers and technical devices.
As I got older, I realized that others would see my potential regarding technical devices. My family would come to me so I could troubleshoot their issues with hardware like VCRs, internet connections with AOL, fax issues, and more. My subsequent interest piqued again when “The Matrix” with Keanu Reeves was released in theaters. His hacking skills opened up a new dimension of knowledge for him, which I also desperately wanted.
My journey into Information Technology was a long and winding trail of customer service jobs after I graduated high school. Burnout from customer service is as real as the nose on your face, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. This is where my love of jargon translation came into play. I enjoyed when customers would call in and ask for an explanation of how to use something, and the delight I would receive after they understood how to work the device was unrelenting.
Working in a help desk role would be better suited for me as I progress my way into locating my career niche. At the help desk, I started to learn about the different fields of information technology and became focused on Cybersecurity. Something about the research I was doing kept pushing me in that direction. There were times when people in other departments would call in and ask for help with applications that they were using. I could never understand HOW they could use an application without knowing HOW to fix the application when something went wrong.
The more information I retained, the better I understood my background skillset development.
The Pandemic hit in 2019, and this made me realize how introverted I was. I found an overnight tier 2 remote help desk job with an analytics company and started researching different certifications I could get. I achieved my Security+ certification in 2020, which became my passion; learning about the various types of threats became fascinating. The thought of a threat attacking a network reminded me of how the human body is affected by outside sources, and this is when I became obsessed.
As of right now, I hold the Security+, CCST-Networking & CCST-Cybersecurity certification. I work as an Information Protection Engineer and am working toward the following certificate, the Google Cybersecurity Professional, offered on Coursera. I decided to start this blog to connect with others who share my passion for technology, especially those who might face similar trials and triumphs along the way. My goal is to provide valuable insights as a black mother attempting to surpass her limits, helpful resources that I find, and a sense of community for anyone interested in this field.
Study buddies, I am looking for study buddies!
The AA4IP blog will include the following:
- Personal Stories: My journey, challenges, and successes in the world of Information Technology with a momentary focus on Cybersecurity.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Discussions on the importance of representation and community in tech.
- Career Advice: Tips and strategies for breaking into and thriving in Information Technology.
- Technical Guides: Practical tutorials and guides on various cybersecurity topics.