“I was filled with dread when I read these words: ‘It does not get easier.’ What? You’ve got to be kidding me. It doesn’t get easier? I am already exhausted. You know what? I give up!
I woke up with a sense of gratitude. As always, I began my day with a word of prayer to God, thanking Him for yet another day. Afterward, I picked up my phone, checked my messages, and then headed to Instagram for a few minutes of mindless scrolling. It felt like just another ordinary day. Then, something caught my eye — an announcement that all applicants could check their emails. I had applied for a cybersecurity boot camp, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I would be selected. I grabbed my laptop, whispered a prayer, and opened my email. My heart raced with excitement as I saw the result. OMG, I got in!
It marked the beginning of my journey in cybersecurity.
Starting a new journey often fills us with a surge of excitement. But, as time goes by, that initial enthusiasm can wane, giving way to other emotions — fear, uncertainty, doubt. I knew I had been excited and thrilled at the beginning, but something had changed. Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar shift in your journey.
I’ve discovered something interesting. It is easy to get burnt out and frustrated when learning something new.
I certainly found myself in that situation. The joy I had felt initially began to give way to hopelessness. Subnetting mask? Routing? Oh, don’t even get me started on the whole TCP/IP model. It marked the beginning of a wild rollercoaster ride. I had never signed up for this to feel stressed and confused! Maybe you can relate to this, maybe not in the field of cybersecurity. You might be on a new path yourself, whether it’s a new career or a journey of self-discovery. And chances are, it’s tougher than you thought. You are burned out, tired, and on the verge of giving up.
In times like these, remember to take a moment to breathe. Take necessary breaks.
When I was in high school, I wasn’t a huge fan of computer science. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it either. It had a lot of complex concepts that I didn’t quite understand. I made a personal decision to stay away from Tech. I would describe my journey in cybersecurity as confronting a lifelong challenge head-on. I developed self-doubt three weeks into the training. The more I entertained negative emotions, the more I struggled. I soon realized that I was afraid of failure and making mistakes. I was new to this field, I knew almost nothing about it, and yet I wanted to be a pro.
Set realistic goals and expectations.
A wise person once said, imagine your worst fears happening to you. I became aware that I allowed my fears to paralyze me. I worked on renewing my mind by reading books and meditating. I pondered, “What would happen if I didn’t succeed in cybersecurity?" I would just have to keep it moving. However, what if I were to excel in it?
Think Positively.
Now, I find solace in those words, ‘It does not get easier.’ They hold true, and that’s reassuring. On the sidelines, you evolve, develop and improve your abilities to match the level of difficulty you face. Life is about taking risks. If you don’t risk anything, you won’t gain anything. Let go of your fear, trust God and trust the process of becoming. George Eliot once said,
‘It’s never too late to be what you might have been.’
Writers Note:
Hello guys, this is my first article and I hope you enjoy it. I’d like to hear your feedback on it. Pls follow and share. I have so much more to share with you guys. Till next week, bye :)
