Hi, I’m Ashley, and welcome to Cyber My Way: A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity, my blog where I document my journey in breaking back into the field.
My first role in cybersecurity was as a Junior Penetration Tester and Security Consultant in 2022. Unfortunately, after a year I was laid off, and after a full year of interviewing, I wasn’t able to secure another role. I was burned out from what seemed like an endless cycle of applying to jobs, interviewing, rejection emails, and trying to be the perfect candidate. The job market was and still seems to be difficult, especially considering factors that were out of my control. I took a year off for my mental health and used 2024 to gain stability. I needed a break, and it was very helpful for me to take a step back to figure out what I wanted to do.
In the beginning of 2025 I quit my job as a prevention counselor. Have you ever felt like you were meant to do something greater with your time and talents? That feeling was constant, growing every day. Going to work in a job that neither fueled my passion nor utilized my technical skills made me realize how miserable I would be if I stayed. During my year as a pen tester, I was consistently challenged, worked on projects that were exciting, and overall I felt like I had a passion and purpose. I previously enjoyed doing vulnerability management and assessment, explaining technical concepts to project teams, and learning new ways to execute vulnerabilities in web applications. I knew I couldn’t continue on with my life or accept that my career in cybersecurity ended when it was just beginning!
Initially, my education and introduction into cybersecurity was through a bootcamp. This time, I wanted to take a different and practical approach, so I decided to enroll in school full time. I’m currently studying Computer Network and Technology at my local community college. I previously completed a bootcamp, but this time around, I wanted a steady and organized path to learning. There are many paths into cybersecurity from bootcamps, self taught learning, certifications, previous experience in other technology sectors, or college. Going to college as an adult with previous experience gives me a new opportunity to have a structured educational experience, access to a professional network, work closely with like minded peers, and take different classes without the trial and error of self teaching.
Although I have experienced setbacks, going to college for cyber security gives me a new opportunity to explore and figure out what I want in my career. I previously thought that pen testing was going to be my entire focus throughout my career, but there are so many domains in cybersecurity I am interested in exploring from grc, engineering, incident response, digital forensics, and more.
Next Steps
I am currently working on sharpening my technical skills in python to learn automation, learning cybersecurity policy, going to networking events for AI, crypto, and blockchain, and applying to internships for the summer.
My ultimate goal is to get a job in cybersecurity, but most importantly I want to explore my interests, continue to be curious, and graduate with a degree along the way. Lately, I’ve been really interested in AI, quantum computing, cryptocurrency, and web3 development. I’m looking forward to seeing how cybersecurity will evolve with new technology. This journey takes a holistic approach to cybersecurity, exploring not just the technical side but also the broader aspects that shape the field and how I approach changing careers.
I’d love for you to follow along on this journey! Are you currently switching careers? Deciding between a bootcamp, college, or self-teaching? Have you also experienced being laid off? Or maybe you’re just curious about cybersecurity and the different career paths—technical and non-technical alike? Let’s connect! You can find me on LinkedIn at Ashley Drakes or on X (Twitter) @axhtothemoon.
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