Like many of my peers, I had no real “start” in cyber. I received my first computer at 14 as a gift, and started coding random python & javascript projects at 16 for fun- discord bots, personal sites, etc.
Eventually, I found myself in eye-opening communities that introduced me to wonderful people, as well as CTF’s. At some point, I realized that I wanted to pursue this as more than just a hobby. I wanted this to be my craft, that I hone & perfect as long as I live.
But, at some point I found myself worrying more about the destination rather than the journey- my goals over my growth, the product instead of the process. I had forgotten that mastery lives in repetition, not recognition.
Recently, I not only lost out on an amazing job opportunity, but hit a career hurdle due to something entirely outside my control. Obviously, I’ve lost opportunities before—poor interview performance, technical gaps, the usual suspects. But this time, it was genuinely different. For a week or two, I was heartbroken, and it felt like my own life was outside of my control- like I had been a victim of fate.
But reflecting on it, I realized several things, that I wish I had known when I first started. Firstly, if your conviction is strong enough, nothing will break it. Second, the process matters more than the product—this is a craft, and if you’re only in it for the money, you’ll burn out.
And most importantly:
You are not a victim of fate.
