This post features students who took part in the Cyber Discovery programme. Cyber Discovery gave students aged 13-18 in the UK free access to the CyberStart platform.
We asked four Cyber Discovery students about their experience and what they enjoyed about CyberStart.
Saurajit, Reva, Gabriel and Mariam share their favourite parts about the programme and future career aspirations.
How would you describe CyberStart?
Saurajit: It’s a fun and new opportunity to learn and test your cyber security skills online. It’s unique, and I have found no other alternative that matches the level of depth and commitment to the creation of this program.
Reva: A fun, simple way to learn more about cyber security that anyone can tackle- from someone who loves hacking and coding to someone who just likes to solve puzzles and learn a few more skills along the way.
Gabriel: I would describe it as a very educational, informative and fun way to learn cryptography, programming and other useful skills in computer science in the modern world. The depth of the knowledge explored and the amount of content covered are both very enjoyable things for me as someone who is passionate about computer science and cyber security.
Mariam: It will really help to broaden your knowledge of the subject, and it’s a great platform to give you a head start if you want to pursue the career further.
It’s unique, and I have found no other alternative that matches the level of depth and commitment to the creation of this program.
How would you describe your experience of the Cyber Discovery programme as a whole?
Saurajit: Life-changing.
Reva: It has given me a real sense of achievement and equipped me with the skills and confidence to go further in this field, as well as meeting many new friends with the same ambitions as me.
Gabriel: A very fun, enjoyable and challenging experience.
Mariam: Very educational and extremely fun - a great sense of achievement.
Would you recommend CyberStart to your friends, and why?
Saurajit: Yes, it’s 100% interactive and stimulating and very fulfilling to try and complete. I like how they incorporate story into the cyber security tasks. It has definitely based my decision in future career paths to pursue cyber security. Thanks, CyberStart!
Reva: Yes, it’s an amazing platform that made me very interested in the field of cyber security, as well as opening career prospects that I would have never known about otherwise or felt confident enough to pursue. I knew little to nothing about cyber security before Cyber Discovery, and in some ways, it has changed my life.
Gabriel: Yes, it’s very educational and informative regarding cyber security and computer science. The depth of the knowledge explored and the amount of content covered are both very enjoyable things for me as someone who is passionate about computer science and cyber security.
Mariam: Yes, it provided me with educational skills in a fun format that was easy to use but also challenging. It stretched me beyond what I thought my limits were and gave me a broader understanding to apply to my school lessons.
I knew little to nothing about cyber security before Cyber Discovery, and in some ways, it has changed my life.
What are your career ambitions after playing CyberStart?
Saurajit: I want to be a Penetration Tester or Security Management/Network Security Specialist.
Reva: I’d like to be a Penetration Tester or a cyber security job that involves more than sitting at a computer remotely! Whether to go into the private sector or government, I haven’t decided yet, but am in the process of researching more about them.
Gabriel: I hope to become a Systems Administrator working on all sorts of computer systems and practising my cyber security knowledge that I have learned from CyberStart.
Mariam: Ethical hacking!
Want to learn cyber security and gain a clearer path to your future career? Try out CyberStart today!
