GPA 4.0
B.S. Cybersecurity & Networking
A.S. I.T. & Networking: Network Systems Administration
Alpha CHI | NSLS | ISC2 IE | WICYS | WIC| Devry Cyber Range
Hello World!
Hi, I am Loy, (nickname) a graduating student at DeVry University pursuing my Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity and Networking. I currently hold an Associate’s in Applied Science in IT & Networking and an Undergraduate Certificate in Networking Essentials. I am also certified with CompTIA Security+ (701) and ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC).
Within this portfolio, I share my journey through my blog, CyberTrails: Chronicles of a Cybersecurity Enthusiast.
Inspired by John Young, COO, MBA, AAIR, CISSP, CCSP, CGRC, CSSLP, SSCP, CC, CISM
one of only eleven people in the world to hold all nine ISC² certifications I venture into the known. A vision formed by a passion I have in my heart. Beyond his impressive credentials, what truly stands out is his genuine commitment to lifting others up. He has consistently used his platform and experience to mentor and create opportunities especially for women in cybersecurity. During a particularly difficult season in my life, John took time to mentor me with a roadmap I now follow. He encouraged me not to give up on my dream of entering the field, despite my age, injuries, and setbacks. he actually had more confidence than I had for myself.
His story reminded me why I continue pursuing cybersecurity. Like many others, I have faced financial hardship, health challenges, and moments of doubt. Yet I have learned to count every step forward as progress. What stood out most from his message was the importance of perseverance, mentorship, and refusing to let circumstances define your future.
My own journey with technology began long before cybersecurity entered the picture.
At a very young age, I was exposed to an engineering mind.
At four years old, I became my father’s tiny assistant. He was a World War II reserve bomber pilot, an engineer, and a gifted tinkerer. He could build almost anything. He repaired and rewound electric motors, designed and etched his own printed circuit boards, and seemed capable of building almost anything he set his mind to. I watched him construct an entire automobile from scratch-fabricating the chassis, building the body, completing the wiring, and painting it himself. I spent countless hours beside him, handing him tools and sorting electronic components. Although I was too young to understand the technical details, I became fascinated by the process of building, troubleshooting, and solving problems.
At age ten, I enrolled in a computer learning center and immediately fell in love. I learned DOS commands, used WordStar, and created projects in PrintMaster- all through the keyboard, with no mouse. From that moment, I dreamed of becoming a computer specialist. dreamed of becoming a computer specialist. However, my late father believed nursing would provide a more stable and secure future, so he encouraged me to pursue that path instead. Being the obedient daughter I was, I followed his wishes. At 19, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse.
Looking back, at age 13, in hight school, for a science fair project, I designed and built a miniature portable electric fan using a dynamo motor taken from my younger brother's toy car. Curiosity got the better of me. I had dismantled the toy to understand what made it move and discovered the tiny motor and rotating shaft hidden inside. Using the motor, I fashioned fan blades from a Yakult container, soldered the wiring, added batteries and a switch, and housed everything inside a recycled baby powder container.
At the time, I simply saw it as a fun project and a creative challenge. Looking back now, I sometimes laugh and wonder if I should have patented the idea. Today, compact handheld and pocket fans are sold everywhere. Of course, many people may have had similar ideas, but it reminds me that I have always enjoyed building practical solutions from simple materials and imagining possibilities beyond what already existed. Despite my early fascination with technology, my father still insisted I became a Registered Nurse and genuinely enjoyed caring for others. Yet technology never stopped calling me.
After working in a hospital, I transitioned into a role as a Field Researcher for the Department of Health, a position that aligned well with my background in journalism, writing, and research. Despite choosing this career path, my fascination with technology never faded. I even attempted to join the military, fueled by dreams of working in intelligence and investigation. Unfortunately, I did not meet the height requirements. Undeterred, I continued exploring opportunities that combined creativity, research, and technology.
Eventually, I joined a computer company as a creative writer. It was there that I witnessed the early days of the internet. I still remember spending hours trying to send emails over a dial-up connection and listening to the sound of a modem connecting. My first mouse was a Logitech TrackMan Marble, and some of my earliest PC gaming memories involved GearHead and Blizzard’s Warcraft. This was 1995. Email was still a novelty, internet connections were slow, and Bill Gates was sharing his vision of a connected future. While many people saw computers as tools, I saw endless possibilities. The dream of working with technology never left me.
Years later, before transitioning into cybersecurity, I wore many hats and 19 years working as an ESL and International School Teacher, Office Administrator, Help Desk Support, Assistant Website Administrator, and Event Organizer. I also speak some Japanese. Konnichiwa! Hajimemashite! What started as administrative work gradually evolved into troubleshooting hardware and software, maintaining websites, supporting databases, training staff, and helping protect organizational data.
Interestingly, My unexpected burning passon to return to technology came through something unlikely- a Facebook game called YoVille. While most players used it to decorate virtual homes, I began creating elaborate scenes and designs using the game’s objects as artistic building blocks. I became deeply involved in the community and eventually discovered that players were transferring virtual coins between accounts.
Determined to move coins into my main account, I faced a problem: I couldn’t do it while connected to the same network. This simple challenge led me to research how to connect my laptop through my iPhone with a different networlk At the time, my SoftBank iPhone 3G did not officially support tethering, but I was determined to make it work. Research and influence from GeoHotz prompted me to learn a phones system folder, find root access and jailbreak my iPhone, customize it, and eventually connect my laptop through it. For a brief moment, I felt clever. A few weeks later, however, SoftBank contacted me about unusually high data usage- nearly $2,000 in just two weeks. Since tethering wasn’t officially supported then, they initially believed it was a billing error or glitch and waived the charges. I stopped immediately, scared and repentant.
Looking back, it’s almost funny that a Facebook game became part of my journey into technology. I wasn’t trying to become a cybersecurity professional. I was simply curious and enjoyed figuring things out.
Curiosity has always been the spark.
Today, I am pursuing cybersecurity later in life than most. I have earned my ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), participate in the DeVry Cyber Club, compete in National Cyber League events, and am proud to be part of the newly launched ISC² Inland Empire Chapter. My roadmap includes Security+, CySA+, hands-on labs, Blue Team training, and continuous learning through platforms like TCM Security, TryHackMe, and Microsoft Security Labs.
Every challenge I have faced- personal, financial, and physical has made me more resilient. More than anything,
I hope to use what I’ve learned to someday mentor others and help create space for women who may be wondering if they belong in this field. If my journey has taught me anything, it is that dreams do not expire. Sometimes they simply take a longer path.
I will finish this race. And while I traverse this path, will lift others up.
I believe that while technical skills can be learned, qualities like resilience, discipline, and the willingness to keep moving forward are just as valuable. My journey may not have been traditional, but I am committed to continuing to grow and contribute to the field.
If my journey has taught me anything, it is that dreams do not expire. Sometimes they simply take a longer path.
