Page 20 - Cybersecurity Career Guide for UT Austin

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20
9 THINGS
TO DO NOW
Making smart decisions in high school will pay off later.
The diversity of complex information
systems and the ever-ex-
panding internet of things make
cybersecurity one of the most exciting
career areas out there. Any cybersecurity
career requires a credential of some kind,
but there are certifications, online educa-
tion, and two- and four-year degrees. You
can get there! Consider these steps now
to ready yourself for the future.
1. Take Math. Meaning, algebra
through calculus. If you can, take com-
puter science or statistics, but prioritize
the fundamentals, including physics.
2. Take English, too. Keep any class
that demands critical thinking skills.
You need to be able to organize and
communicate your great ideas!
3. Learn to code. If not in school, enroll
in courses at a local college. Or take FREE
classes online at Code Academy, Alison
.com, and Kahn Academy. Start with Py-
thon, a key cybersecurity programming
language. Other good languages to learn
are JavaScript, Java, Go, C, and C++.
4. Build a website. Once you have
basic coding down, build a website by
yourself or with friends for programming
experience. Then, build a home network!
5. Look into “dual-credit” options.
Some colleges offer courses to students
as young as 9th grade, and they count
as both high school and college credits!
If local schools don’t offer dual-credit,
look into online options, too. See page
22 for more information.
6. Go out for the team. Cybersecurity
pros work independently AND on teams,
using skills best learned by doing. Compe-
titions like CyberPatriot and Capture the
Flag events teach skills and teamwork.
If your school lacks robotics teams and
competitions, start a cyber club! Contact
local community colleges and universities
to see what they host. Hit up the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Computer Society for help finding spon-
sors. See page 24 for more ideas.
7. Go to work at school. In many
places, cyber-savvy students use
cybersecurity skills to help keep their
own school safe from online attacks.
Working alongside professional IT
staff or even as part of a student-run
security operations center, knowledge-
able high schoolers can gain real-world
experience and contribute unique per-
spectives to safeguarding the online
community they share with peers
and educators. If your school does
not already do this, put together a
proposal for your principal and see
what you can make happen!
maximize high school