Cybersecurity Learning Odyssey:

Certification Quest

• CompTIA Security+
• Google Cybersecurity Cert. by Coursera ✓
• Google IT support Cert. by Coursera ✓
• Intro to Splunk (Splunk) ✓
• Intro to Splunk Infrastructure Monitoring (Splunk) ✓
• Introduction to Ethical Hacking Cert. by GreatLearning ✓
• Introduction to Cyber Security Badge by Cisco ✓
• Introduction to Ethical Hacking Certification by MyGreatLearning ✓

Overcoming the Security+ Exam: A Journey of Curiosity and Confidence

I must admit, I really overthought pursuing the Security+ certification. I asked many people if it was necessary, overwhelmed by the fear of failure and the cost, despite having a college discount. I often looked for reasons to avoid it, convinced that studying for certifications was just a mind reload and dump—an effort to earn a piece of paper rather than gaining real knowledge.

However, this mindset shifted as I went deeper into the field out of genuine curiosity. I found myself interested by encryption, exploring the reasons of ports and the purposes behind protocols like TLS, SSH, FTP, and HTTPS. I became deeply interested in incident response plans and frameworks for enterprise protection. I immersed myself in YouTube videos and creative presentations, all the while not knowing I was unknowingly preparing for the Security+ exam.

After a few months of this self-driven learning, I sat down one evening and felt a renewed curiosity about Security+. I decided to spend a few days watching videos to see if I was already familiar with the material. To my surprise, I knew much of it already. Motivated by this, I scheduled the exam for just two days later, giving myself minimal time to “prepare.”

Instead of following the typical route of extensive courses and practice exams (Udemy, Professor Messer practice tests, Jason Dion), I relied on my existing knowledge and practice questions from random YouTube videos. The night before the test, I was anxious about my readiness, particularly because I hadn’t memorized all the acronyms. But when I woke up on the exam day, I felt confident—almost as if I was gearing up to tackle a boss in a game.

During the test, many questions felt straightforward. My strategy of eliminating clearly wrong answers helped me narrow down choices effectively. I finished the exam with around 40 minutes to spare, revisiting questions and a Performance-Based Question (PBQ) multiple times. The PBQ was a great opportunity to apply my knowledge in a simulated environment.

Passing the Security+ exam was a significant achievement. I realized that my initial hesitation was unnecessary. The key takeaway is that continuous learning and genuine curiosity are more valuable than memorizing every detail. If you stay eager to learn and engage with the material, the knowledge—and eventually the certifications—will come naturally.

Remember, no one knows everything. What sets you apart is the desire to keep learning and understanding. Embrace that curiosity, and let it guide your journey.

Connect with the Journey: Stay Updated on LinkedIn

This blog post just a fraction of my learnings. As I strive for more basic and advanced certifications, I am eager to share insights with fellow cybersecurity people. Stay updated of my progress and discoveries by connecting with me on LinkedIn. The quest for knowledge in the dynamic field of cybersecurity continues, and I look forward to sharing the evolving landscape with the community.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Odyssey

My certification journey has been an great learning experience, but it’s only the beginning. This blog post only scratches the surface of what I’ve learned, emphasizing the importance of the evolving realm of cybersecurity. As I aim for more basic and advanced certifications, I’m eager to share my insights with fellow cybersecurity nerds. You can stay up to date with my progress on my LinkedIn!