Congratulations to Jaden Soller of Indiana on being awarded Fracitonal CISO’s 2023 vCISO Cybersecurity Scholarship! Fractional CEO and Founder Rob Black presented her the award in a video call.
Jaden’s interest in technology was sparked by a gift from her father: an old laptop. It was her first computer, and he quickly began teaching her how to use technology and Internet safety.
You can read her cybersecurity journey, in her own words, below.
Jaden Soller’s Cybersecurity Journey
My cybersecurity journey began with an old laptop from my father and led to me using my technology skills to pursue a future. I am currently pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity and National Security Studies and certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and Network+, while working as a lead analyst intern. These educational objectives and career development opportunities will offer me a robust knowledge of cybersecurity and its relation to the rise of technology as a weapon. Meanwhile, I also have volunteered using my technology-focused skills by running lighting and media for several organizations. This knowledge and my volunteer experiences will be essential as I desire to work in a government occupation in the information technology field to offer protection of sensitive data and information for others. These educational and occupational aspirations complement my goals to set procedures for safe technological use and to be a contributor to my family and community.
The inspiration for my future in cybersecurity came packaged neatly within a gray Gateway laptop from the early 2000’s. It was my first computer and a gift from my father. I had heard whispers of the gift from my close relatives, yet I was in disbelief that my dad would entrust me with something as valuable as a computer. The computer was an older one from his company and they no longer had a purpose for it, but it meant everything to me. My father was the first person to introduce me to technology, and I quickly gleaned a passion for maintaining the promise of opportunity of the internet. The internet provides education and entertainment at the click of a button, providing knowledge on a wide variety of topics.
My dad used his savings to invest in his children through technological equipment, while other families used their financial savings to take their children on vacation. My father taught me how to safely use a computer, but also of the dangers of the internet. I have had an analytical mind ever since I was a child, so the computer provided an opportunity for me to learn an abundance of topics from current world issues to dessert recipes. I am grateful for his investment in my interests. Also, I was able to have formative memories of my brothers and I circling around the now obsolete computer to play games and search the web.
I quickly developed an aspiration to utilize technology to the most of its capabilities; even as a child, I knew that I would never find fulfillment in jobs that did not challenge me intellectually. This ambition in me has not wavered, so I am pursuing a degree in cybersecurity because I desire to assist others outside of the social norms while appealing to my interest in technology. I am also determined to serve my community with the resources gained from my degree, such as my technological skills and opportunities college will grant me in the future. The act of volunteering will assist in my pursuit of faith and will benefit others and my performance in a career due to ethical behavior.
I have utilized my technological skills to provide resources for the church through lighting programming and presentation media while in high school for organizations such as Move Youth Group, Life Changing Church, and Dayspring Community Church. I would run lighting and media presentations for the various organizations; and I volunteered as the lead lighting programmer for Dayspring, where I would program lighting weekly for services and worship, often spending hours after church programming for the upcoming week. This volunteer experience ensures I have a well-rounded education interacting with differing technology, while assisting others in the field by troubleshooting issues, and establishing foundational skills in the field of information technology.
My learning journey in cybersecurity occurred earlier within my high school career than most, as I expanded my knowledge of topics within cybersecurity and artificial intelligence by taking dual-enrollment computer science and information technology courses from a local college, granting me the opportunity to graduate a year early from college. I am currently enrolled in Anderson University, pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity and National Security Studies. Furthermore, I am a team lead analyst at the Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense, where I currently lead other analysts in cybersecurity-related tasks for our clients: identifying clients’ potential cybersecurity deficiencies, then providing actionable information and materials so each client can resolve and/or mitigate risks. I work to ensure every client is equipped to advance the security of their information systems, addressing cybersecurity issues regarding administrative, technical, and physical security.
Additionally, I am currently studying for certification beyond my major, hoping to improve my cybersecurity knowledge and skills. I am currently studying for both the CompTIA Security+ and Network+ exams, as well as studying any additional material required for my work to better assist clients. I am determined to become certified in these areas to advance my knowledge and marketability, improving my knowledge to better assist my current and future clients.
I am hopeful I can continue to serve my community through my work, knowledge, and volunteerism. My service to others will be protecting the right of security, ensuring technology cannot be used for unethical harm. The betterment of society through my talents, work, and knowledge is my passion so I will work to excel in my field to inspire future generations, as my father inspired me. The simple gift of a computer would be another material object to some, yet for me, a computer is a symbol of the blessings my work can provide for others.
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