Introduction to a Future Cybersecurity Professional and Future World Traveler
Hello everyone, and welcome to the start of my blog! My name is Jackie Austin, I am a graduating Senior from Tulsa, OK. My major is Information Studies, and a cool thing about my major is that I'm able to do a lot of stuff with technology, in fact most of the core courses for my degree were online. The BEST class I took last semester was Cybersecurity Essentials, which was an elective for my degree. It was the best class to me because I got to learn practical knowledge about something that I'm passionate about. I've always been interested in cybersecurity as a possible career field. If any of you who are reading this are familiar with Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds, that's the kind of computer knowledge I want to have. I guess my biggest accomplishment last semester would be to have obtained an A in that cybersecurity course. I can't really think of anything else.
So I have a lot of favorite books/movies/TV shows. I love Harry Potter with all my heart, I've read the books and seen the movies more times than I could count, I've been sorted into Hufflepuff by Pottermore but I consider myself more of a Ravenclaw.
(Image Found Here)
So I have a lot of favorite books/movies/TV shows. I love Harry Potter with all my heart, I've read the books and seen the movies more times than I could count, I've been sorted into Hufflepuff by Pottermore but I consider myself more of a Ravenclaw.
(Image Found Here)
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| Image of the Ravenclaw Crest from Harry Potter |
I also love Star Wars, I've seen all the movies so far multiple times and the Clone Wars movie and t.v. show (anybody else ready for Rise of Skywalker? I'm going to see it after I graduate). Return of the Jedi is my personal favorite of the movies. Fun fact, my father actually saw the very first Star Wars movie in theaters, he was 7 years old at the time. I also enjoy t.v. shows like Criminal Minds, Sherlock, Big Bang Theory, and Doctor Who. A great movie I saw relatively recently was Avengers: Endgame. I can also recommend The Intern if you're looking for a chick-flick, feel-good type of movie. I haven't really read any new books recently, I mostly go back to books I've read and love.
As far as music goes, my taste in music is spread across different genres and time periods so I can't pick a favorite. My parents raised me on late 70's-80's rock music, things like: Queen, Def Leopard, Aerosmith, Journey, AC/DC, Poison, Van Halen, Guns and Roses, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi. If you're from the Tulsa area 103.3 is my go-to radio station. There was also usually some older country music mixed in there with some pop music. So my current playlist has a mix of that rock music, along with Daughtry and Nickleback and some of the more current music of today.
After I graduate this semester, I want to get a full-time job in the I.T. industry, perhaps even in cybersecurity. Once I get a well-paying job, I want to start traveling the world and seeing what it has to offer me. My big dream is to travel to all the countries that it is safe to travel to.
So that's all I have to say about myself so far. I look forward to meeting all of you, and please feel free to leave comments and ask questions!
Hey Jackie! It looks like we have a lot of TV shows and movies in common. I read the Harry Potter series in 4th grade and have loved it ever since. I also am a big fan of the Star Wars movies and the Marvel movies as well. I'm also curious what made you initially interested in Information Studies? It's such a cool major and it seems like you're really passionate about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jess! That's awesome that we have so many TV shows and movies in common. I get really passionate about the things that I find interesting, including Harry Potter and Star Wars. So I've always loved technology, I've always been fascinated to learn new things about it and try to figure out how things worked. Originally when I applied to OU I chose Computer Science as my major, then I realized that there is a lot of intense math that goes into it, abstract math that isn't really my strength. Then my mom, who's finishing her Bachelor's at OU online, saw Information Studies as a major and showed it to me. I saw the course work and realized that this was something I can do and still pursue a career in technology. It's not quite as intense as Computer Science is.
DeleteJackie it is amazing to get to know you definitely I wish you luck on your graduation this semester hope all your dreams come true and I would like to let you know that my dad himself is an IT engineer he is double masters in computer science and mechanical engineer and now works for Devon as IT leads analyst I have great respect for people going into IT its very challenging. I aswell love queens I have seen the movie Bohemian Rapsody and really made me like Queens as a band more I personally have done 14 years of Indian classical music and continue to skype my teacher till this day to continue my education and talent in singing.
ReplyDeleteHi Riddhi! Thank you for your comment, and thank you for wishing me luck on graduation. I'm nervous but very excited. That's really cool to hear about your dad, it can indeed be very challenging, but I love technology so it's worth it. I'm glad to hear of someone else who likes Queen. I saw Bohemian Rhapsody over the summer and LOVED it. I was singing along to all the songs. Nice to meet you!
DeleteMaybe you will think of some Harry Potter or Star Wars mash-up stories to create for this class, Jackie! And at the end of the semester during the free reading, there is a really cool novel you might enjoy; a kind of techno-thriller if not exactly cybersecurity: KRISHNA KEY by Ashwin Sanghi who is basically like the Dan Brown of Indian thrillers. I hope you will get lots of ideas from this class about places you might want to visit in India... and as an IT professional, you might indeed have the opportunity to do that. You will be ready for the India of mythology, as well as the India of technology! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Laura! Thank you for the really cool ideas about what I can do for my stories. KRISHNA KEY sounds really interesting, I may have to check it out.
DeleteHey Jackie!
ReplyDeleteCybersecurity sounds insanely interesting. I actually have a family friend who works on computers for government agencies. I know he even worked at the Pentagon before. That is all he told me though because of all of the classified information. I hope I have not said to much on here. If I disappear, you know what caused it.
Our music tastes are pretty different even though I grew up listening to similar music, once I was able to listen to my own music I started to enjoy more modern music.
I also consider myself a Ravenclaw, though Pottermore says I am split between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. I have never got a conclusive result. I am happy with both of those options though!
Lastly, I am a huge fa of traveling. Where do you consider safe places to travel? I recently traveled to Thailand and a lot of people do not consider that a safe place to travel. So I am interested to hear what you think.
Hi Heath,
DeleteIt's extremely interesting, to me at least. That is so cool, I actually am interested in working for government agencies for Cybersecurity, I know a lot of the agencies hirepeople in that field. Yeah I'm sure that he's not allowed to say much at all, with classified information. Most people in government agencies like that have to have strict security clearance to view that information. I still enjoy alot of that music, though I definitely mix more modern music into it as well. Fellow Ravenclaw! Potttermore insists on keeping me in Hufflepuff, and I can definitely see it, but I love Ravenclaw so if it were real and I was at Hogwarts, I would ask to be put in Ravenclaw. I'm a fan of traveling too. So, I have yet to leave the United States, though I have my passport. It's hard to say which places would be safe, because since I'm a woman, there are places that would not be safe for me to visit that would probably be safe for men to travel to. In general western European countries are usually okay I think, just need to be vigilant, lots of people seem to enjoy Canada and it's beautiful there from the pictures I've seen.
Hey Jackie! Your major sounds incredibly interesting, and I love how passionate you are about it. How does the format of this online class compare to others you've taken? Are there any platforms or functions you're excited to explore or take advantage of in this class? For myself, I loved the Twine branching stories concept, and the examples we've seen of them so far.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you find a job in the IT Industry and get your opportunities to travel! That's so exciting, I hope it all works out for ya.
Hi, Jackie! That is so neat that you have found a career that you are so passionate about! I am truly terrible with technology, so I really admire your ability to know the ins and outs of it so well! I don’t watch Criminal Minds, but my cousins watch it all the time, so I will have to ask them about Penelope Garcia’s character! I also saw that you recently watched the movie The Intern, with Anne Hathaway! I love that movie. Nancy Meyers is one of my favorite screen writers. I cry every time at that movie. I really hope you get to fulfill your dream of working in cybersecurity and traveling the world! Do you know where you would travel first?
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to meet a fellow Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw! I didn't get into Harry Potter until mid-way through High School because it was always never allowed by my family because of the "witchcraft," but I'm so glad I rebelled because this series totally swept me away! So I'm sadly not the tried and true book to movie buff, but I feel as much a Potterhead either way! Who doesn't love the magical world of Hogwarts? Also, seeing as through you have interest in such fantasy type genres as far as TV and film is concerned, I bet that will serve you well using these as creative inspiration for this class! Also, I had no idea cybersecurity was something you could major in, but that's coming from someone with a major like Letters that no one's ever heard of! Also, my parents recently moved to Tulsa, so when I visit I'll have to check out your recommended radio station!
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie!
ReplyDeleteI think its great that you are getting a job in the IT industry, it is definitely a booming industry. I wish I had a passion for doing something like that, because surprisingly I have about six years of experience doing that in the military. I decided to go on a different path and am getting a degree in health and exercise science! I know a completely different world than IT haha. I think its funny you said go to all of the safe countries ( that exactly how I feel). As much as I would love to see certain places I am putting those off until I feel like I can visit and not be worried or anxious the whole time. My favorite place I have visited so far is Greece! Now that I have kids its harder to travel but i'm in need of a vacation soon !!
Hi Jackie! I think it is so cool how you are interested in cybersecurity. I think that would be a career that required hard work but was also fun and enjoyable! I enjoyed getting to hear about how excited you were to enter a field like the IT industry and can tell how passionate you are about it! I also think being able to travel the world would be an amazing experience and I also hope to be able to do the same some day. It was nice being able to get to know you!
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie! It's incredibly interesting that you're interested in cybersecurity, and I'm interested in what the class involved! Man, it's been a long time since I've seen Criminal Minds, but I may have to go back and watch it now! As well, I'm about halfway through reading the Harry Potter series for the first time and it's super good! Which book would you say is your favorite? I think Prisoner of Azkaban is the best for me just because of Sirius Black!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI also love Harry Potter! I took the pottermore test and got Slytherin. Do you think they should come out with more movies from another student down the line that also has to fight a strong other wizard? Also perhaps make him from a different house. What part of the world do you want to see? Have you been out of the country before? I wish you all the best!
Hi Jackie! I also love Harry Potter, and I'm a Hufflepuff both on Pottermore and in my heart, haha. I love Star Wars too, and I am SO ready for Rise of Skywalker. The Force Awakens is my favorite Star Wars movie, which is controversial among my friends. And I was raised on classic rock as well. My favorite band from that era is probably Led Zeppelin, but you can't go wrong with some good Billy Joel or Elton John piano rock, either.
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie! I think it’s funny that I’ve kept up with your project, but haven’t gotten to comment on your intro until now, the last week of class! I haven’t read/seen anything from the Harry Potter series in a very long time, but it will always have a special place in my heart. I got sorted into Slytherin. It’s really neat how you’re into cybersecurity! I wish you the best of luck for the remainder of the semester and after graduation!
ReplyDelete