My Cybersecurity Journey: Lessons from Teaching, Consulting, and Hands-On Labs

Introduction

My journey into cybersecurity wasn’t conventional. Before entering the field, I spent years working in various roles in retail, an experience that gave me a deep appreciation for business operations and customer needs. When I eventually returned to college as a non-traditional student, I started to see technology not just as a tool, but as a critical factor in securing businesses and their data. That realization led me down the cybersecurity path, where I combined my passion for tinkering, problem-solving, and security into a career.

A Lifelong Curiosity: From Tinkering to Cybersecurity

Growing up, I was always a tinkerer—I wanted to understand how things worked. Ever since I was old enough to grasp electronics in the 1980s, I was drawn to them. In the 90s, I opened up my mom’s computer, took it apart, and rebuilt it—all without the internet to guide me! That hands-on approach to learning shaped my mindset early on. I didn’t just want to use technology; I wanted to push its limits, break it, fix it, and understand it from the inside out.

That curiosity naturally evolved into an interest in cybersecurity. The idea that systems could be manipulated, secured, and optimized fascinated me. But my time in retail also gave me a different perspective: security wasn’t just about technology—it was about people, processes, and business continuity.

Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice

Returning to college and studying cybersecurity confirmed what I had already suspected—theory alone isn’t enough. Many cybersecurity courses focus on frameworks, policies, and concepts, but without hands-on application, they often lack real-world impact. That’s why I was drawn to ethical hacking—a field that blends technical knowledge with problem-solving and creativity.

I’ve always loved the oxymoron of “ethical hacking”—where “ethical” means choosing the right path, but “hacking” is associated with breaking and destruction. It’s the perfect balance: as an ethical hacker, I can legally—with the right permissions—break into systems to expose weaknesses and help companies secure their data.

The Evolution of My Career: Teaching, Consulting, and Labs

Over time, my cybersecurity journey took me through three key areas:

  • Teaching: I found that breaking down complex security concepts into real-world examples helped students understand them better.
  • Consulting: I worked with businesses, where I saw first-hand how poor security practices left organizations vulnerable.
  • Hands-On Labs: Recognizing the need for experiential learning, I started developing practical cybersecurity labs that mirror real-world security scenarios.

Each of these experiences reinforced a simple truth: cybersecurity must be learned by doing.

Looking Ahead

While my previous post on Why I Created ProftSec explains the mission behind the platform, this journey post is about why I believe hands-on cybersecurity education matters.

  • Cybersecurity is not just about reading concepts—it’s about experimenting, failing, and learning from real-world experiences.
  • Security isn’t just an IT issue—it affects businesses, individuals, and society at large.
  • The best cybersecurity professionals don’t just memorize frameworks—they think like adversaries and problem-solvers.

As I continue to build ProftSec, my goal is to provide a platform where anyone—regardless of background—can gain practical cybersecurity skills. Whether you’re a student, professional, or business owner, I hope to make cybersecurity more accessible, practical, and engaging.

Have you taken a non-traditional path into cybersecurity? Let me know—I’d love to hear your story!