Information Technology changed my life.
I didn’t grow up in a place where a career in tech seemed realistic. The idea of working behind a desk—rather than under the sun on a construction site, hauling boxes, or driving a truck—felt impossible.
This blog is proof that you can start from anywhere and build a career in tech. My goal is to share what I’ve learned—through wins, mistakes, and everything in between—so you can see what’s possible.
If you take one thing from your visit here, let it be this: You can do it. Don’t stop. Keep going.
I started my path into information technology in 2014, focused on networking. Back then, the popular routes were website or game development, but for network engineers, the path was Cisco Networking Technologies. If you wanted a job, you needed a Cisco certification — plain and simple. Fast forward to 2025, and the path isn’t nearly as clear.
I’ve been in the tech industry since 2013, but I’ve only been attending conferences for the past four years. This year was my first time going to BlackHat and DEFCON. For folks who have been going for years, these events are often seen as “what once was.” For me, they’re very much “what is.”
Based on my experience, there are three major reasons why — and what aspiring professionals can do about them.
Curious foxes danced beneath glowing lanterns, while ancient whispers echoed through misty valleys under a moonlit sky of wonder.
Hidden servers hummed quietly as encrypted packets flowed endlessly, securing distant data vaults deep within the digital fortress of tomorrow.