First things first…

In this day and age, where AI has become the norm, I want to believe that there are still people like me who need to understand concepts from the fundamentals. Not just putting prompts into ChatGPT and letting the machine do its thing, but understanding how it is doing this.

For this reason, I will be sharing my learning journey as I go and the resources I will be using throughout my studies to help those who are like me.

But before we dive into this, let’s have a recap of the last 4 months that have marked the start of my journey in cybersecurity and my return to class.

Back Story

Back in September 2025, I enrolled in my first semester of cybersecurity at OUK and immediately received a scholarship for another program (I’ll talk about this in later posts) by Cyber Shujaa.  Cyber Shujaa offers training to graduates of tech-related courses, giving them the skills they need to land jobs.

This was a program recommended by a friend, and I did not think I would get in because my first degree has nothing to do with tech. However, I was accepted.

By the time I was accepted, the class had already begun and was playing catch-up. Mind you, this was a time when work was intense, so I had very little time to study. Did I mention that I am a mother of two under five?

The game of catch began, but I was determined to keep up with the rest of the cyber Shujaa participants. I managed to catch up in one class, but soon realized that the scholarship was three-in-one, meaning that, in addition to the main course, I was expected to do labs and soft skills.

The soft skills class had its own day and assignments aligned with each week. Due to work, I was not able to participate in the live class and therefore, in addition to the course materials, I needed to watch the class recordings and complete the assignments.

Soon the deadlines started arriving, and due to the technical nature of some of the assignments, I couldn’t manage to complete them within the deadlines.

For instance, in one of the assignments, we were supposed to create repositories on GitHub showcasing our resumes and projects we had done. I had a GitHub account, but I had no clue how to create repositories. There are so many challenges that arise, especially when you have tight deadlines.

How?

Let me be specific. I had only gained access to the Cyber Shujaa LLMs two days before the deadline for one of the assignments. I had to figure out how the system worked before I could tackle the assignments. To make matters worse, the night before the submission, my youngest daughter got sick.

I was here trying to learn how to edit the template provided without messing with the code, while at the same time trying to soothe my baby, who was not feeling well, and in the back of my mind, work would still be waiting for me in the morning.

I would soothe and put her to bed but she would be up in two minutes, and the cycle would start again. My friends offered to help with the assignment, but I wasn’t ready to let someone else do it for me because I wanted to learn how to do it by myself.

Since I couldn’t manage to do the assignment and my baby wouldn’t allow me to put her down, around 12:30 AM I gave up on trying to complete it, wrote an email to the facilitators asking for an extension, and then slept. In my mind, I had reached a stage where trying to catch up was becoming exhausting, and with the baby sick, it was impossible to do anything. I was really hoping for an extension.

The deadline came and passed, and to my surprise, the portal was still open for submissions, meaning I could submit the assignment as soon as I was done, even if the deadline had passed. I had asked for a 48-hour extension, but the facilitators ended up offering an entire week.

Next…

I eventually finished the assignment, and you can see the end product HERE. It’s not great, like most people’s, but for someone with zero experience, I must say it is something I am proud to have accomplished.

Back to the other side of studies, I was still enrolled, but the scholarship program was taking most of my time. Eventually, I fell behind, especially after some classes shifted to morning hours when I was at work and couldn’t catch up. Among the subjects I found challenging to catch up on were Math and Physics.

This was especially true because the last time I was in a math class and this specific type of math was over ten years ago. I had dropped physics in form two, so the basics I could remember from then were not of much use at this level. To catch up, I needed to do a lot of research and revision.

With the scholarship program and my other responsibilities, I could not possibly handle them all, and eventually something had to give.

I put my pursuit of math and physics on hold and focused on finishing the other subjects. As I write this, I am on the third module of the Math unit and hope to finish the entire unit by the end of this month so I can qualify for mid-semester exams.

OUK’s flexibility allows me to take the exam in the middle of the semester without having to wait until the end of the semester. I hope they maintain this, especially for people who have returned to school after some time away.

Where I’m at now…

Reflecting back on those four months of my life, there is so much I have learnt, but here are 6 main lessons from my first year, first semester back at school:

1. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself with steps you can manage.

What you need to learn so that you can do something substantial in the security industry can be overwhelming. But this only happens when you are trying to learn everything at once.

Based on my experience, everything is important but should be taken a step at a time. The scholarship was covering some aspects from an intermediate level of understanding.

For instance, you needed to be able to understand fundamentals of networking however, since I did not have that background, I spent a lot of time back and forth trying to understand the workings of the systems.

In hindsight, if I had the foundational knowledge, I would have spent much less time on the course material and more on the labs. Consequently, in any tech course, understanding the fundamentals is crucial to building the right skills.

Understanding what you know and what you need to know is the first and best step in succeeding. I do not regret where I started, it is through this that I have a clear picture of what I need to do.

It has also taught me a lot on the fundamentals such that when I embark on getting the certifications, it will be like revising for what I already know. Therefore, it was a great use of my time and resources.

2. Need for flexibility

When my application to the university was accepted, I was so excited and even started planning how I could finish the program within three years. It is still possible to do this, but to manage everything, I have found it necessary to adjust my plan.

Over time, I know I will make more changes to accommodate everything that happens. Consequently, over the past four months, I have learned the need for flexibility because some things will come that you have no control over.

All you can do is work around them.

3. Learn how to walk before you can learn how to fly.

In tech, there is always so much to study. You need to get a diploma or a degree, but you also need to get certifications. This can feel intense, especially for someone who is changing careers.

It is important to remember that the primary goal is not just the paper but understanding the fundamentals and building a strong foundation so you can enjoy the journey and grow in the industry.

Otherwise, it is going to be a very bumpy ride, and you might end up giving up along the way. Consequently, identify the path in tech you want to take, learn the fundamentals, and then you can chase the certifications.

In other words, as much as you are chasing the destination, make your journey as smooth as you can by learning the basics before chasing the complex stuff.

4. Network

Before enrolling in the degree program, I knew I knew very little about cybersecurity, but enough to share some insights with someone who is not in the industry.

Once I started the degree, I have had the opportunity to interact with people in the industry who have been doing this for over a decade through the mentorship program and other platforms.

These connections have made me realize how little I knew. I have also come to appreciate how interconnected the tech world is. It is surprising how strangers support each other’s growth, and I cannot wait to connect even more.

If you are in the industry and have projects or events, invite me. I want to participate more.

5. Opportunities

There has been the scary aspect of AI taking over and leaving people jobless. However, if there is anything that immersing myself in the industry has taught me is that AI has only broadened the industry and paved way for new opportunities for those who acquire the right skills and align themselves with what is needed.

Take for instance, my pursuit for cybersecurity. This is a career focused on securing systems and people. In a recent video published by NetworkChuck  it has become clear that the attack surface has only broadened. Cyber Criminals have found a way to leverage AI for their activities.

Putting two and two together, this means that the cybersecurity field will need to catch up with what the criminals are doing and integrate AI in the hunt for these criminals. As they get clever with AI so do cybersecurity professional need to integrate it.

As a result, anyone who is willing to learn more has the opportunity to specialize in cybersecurity that integrates AI. Just like installation CCTV does not prevent criminals and essentially makes the work of police officers easier so should AI be to cyber security professionals.

Bad guys will always exist and will evolve with changes in technology.

6. Finding your C.O.G

There are many things that can derail you from your goal, including a lack of motivation. The key to maintaining momentum in the face of challenges is finding your center of gravity in relation to your goal.

Most people are grounded by the goal of earning a certification at the end of a certain period.

Personally, what grounds me is the fact that I want to end each day knowing more than I did last night and being able to do even better than then.

My pursuit of a career in tech is not just about the financial reward but also an innate desire to quench a certain thirst for knowledge.

Back to the past…

I remember a time when I was working as an academic writer and would tackle different subjects in a day. In the morning, I would wake up and discover there is an illness called Parkinson’s disease. I would learn everything there is to know about it, and even diagnose it based on symptoms.

In the afternoon, I would explain theories about Stonehenge, and by the time I was sleeping, I could argue with you about the ship of Theseus. Learning something new made me excited about life.  Always looking forward to each day. But there is only so much I could do with that knowledge.

My journey through cybersecurity gives me the same effect, only now my discoveries will help people, which is why I am excited to learn and grow in it.

Now, to sum it all up, the past four months have been exciting, challenging, and to some extent, scary. But I am happy to have lived them. I cannot wait to share more of what is coming with you. I hope this inspires you to do what you have always wanted.

Cheers to what is coming as we do life!!!

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