Jesse Ceja

 
"Being surrounded by people who share similar interests in technology, cybersecurity and data helps create an environment where collaboration and curiosity are encouraged."

 
Hometown

Tucson, Arizona

To me, the InfoSci experience means... 

Community. I feel that in this college, we are all very interconnected and always trying to help each other. Whether it is professors reaching out and offering their assistance or attending seminars hosted by the college where professionals from their respective fields come to speak, there is always an opportunity to learn and connect.

The college does a great job of creating opportunities for students to grow both academically and professionally. Overall, the Information Science experience has shown me how important community and support are when pursuing a career in a technical field.

More about me:

I chose the Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Operations because I have always had a strong interest in technical problem-solving. Before I entered college, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I only knew that I enjoyed altering websites on my computer and helping my parents fix the WiFi. Because of that, I tried to find a major that aligned with my interests and would keep me engaged. I eventually stumbled upon Cyber Operations, and through it I found a community of like-minded individuals. Whether someone is studying cyber law, cyber engineering or cyber defense and forensics, everyone is always willing to help each other.

I feel that the most rewarding part of this major is the unique learning environment that cybersecurity students have. We are able to learn from each other while working on projects, share different perspectives and even learn from our professors’ real-world experiences in the field.

I will be interning at Tucson Electric Power. At TEP, I will be part of a rotational program where I will learn different skills from multiple teams and further expand my knowledge and experience in the cybersecurity field. Through this internship, I hope to see how cybersecurity plays an important role in protecting critical systems. My goal is to one day work full-time on the cybersecurity team at TEP and help protect our critical infrastructure in the utilities sector.

In my free time, I enjoy going on hikes in the Catalina Mountains and visiting Sabino Canyon. When I’m not hiking, I like to work on my car and try out different cybersecurity projects on Raspberry Pi.

My advice for new InfoSci students is... 

Step out of your comfort zone. When I first started college, I tried to keep to myself and only stayed within a small group of friends in my major. I found that this caused a sort of stagnation in my growth as both a student and a person. I eventually began reaching out to professors, talking to more people within my major and attending networking events. Through this change in mindset, I was able to build connections, and through those connections, I was able to land an internship. Or to quote Theodore Roosevelt, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
  

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