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Second-year cyber security student, Elizabeth, never planned to go into tech, but after discovering ethical hacking and scoring a spot in a Women in STEM program, she’s all in. Elizabeth’s journey into cyber security has been full of following her curiosity, and saying yes to unexpected opportunities, shaping her understanding of the tech world.
Did you know that ethical hacking is a thing?
From trial-and-error subject choices in high school to an unexpected opportunity at the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, second-year cyber security student Elizabeth has followed her curiosity into a field where she’s now learning to ethically hack for good.
“Back in high school, I tried physics, chemistry, I thought maybe science was the thing. But the only subject that actually made sense to me, the one I could really get through, was computer science. That felt like my language.”
Now studying a Bachelor of Computing, Elizabeth has discovered a particular interest in ethical hacking, an area of cyber security where specialists are employed to test and improve systems by finding vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can.
“It’s like how governments hire ex-hackers to protect their systems. You get to be on the good side, solving problems by thinking like someone who’s trying to break in.”
After graduating high school, Elizabeth didn’t hesitate to start uni and was eager to dive into it and discover what opportunities were out there. Since then, she’s joined ComSSA (the Curtin Computer Science Students Association), participated in the student ambassador program, and taken on teaching roles outside of uni, sharing her love for learning as a spoken English tutor for high school students.
But it’s not always been easy. Time management has been one her biggest challenges. Balancing uni, part-time work and personal wellbeing, especially during busy weeks, can feel overwhelming for her. But, over time, she’s built up her own strategies: taking one step at a time, asking for help and embracing the idea that being organised doesn’t mean having everything figured out from day one.
“Take breaks, ask for help, whether it’s academic or mental health support, and don’t assume you need to have it all together from the start. It’ll be okay.”
One of Elizabeth’s most memorable moments so far came last summer, when she was selected to attend the Women in Science and Entrepreneurship School at Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Energy (AINSE).
The opportunity seemed too good to be true when she found it on UniHub. When Elizabeth found out that she was one of just two students selected, she couldn’t believe it wasn’t a scam and had to call to check.
During her AINSE experience, she met inspiring women in science and technology and gained a broader perspective on where a tech degree could take her.
“It really opened my eyes. I used to think I’d have to work for one of the big tech companies to be successful, but I learned that every field needs tech experts. That experience changed how I think about my future.”
Looking to the future, Elizabeth hopes to work in cyber security after graduation, ideally in ethical hacking or cyber defence, and one day give back by mentoring others or working with underrepresented communities. One of her goals is to help others through what she’s learned. Whether it’s through teaching or mentoring, she hopes to make a difference down the line and into the future.
