Ellis Lilly is in his last semester of SRTC’s Cybersecurity program, but he says that it was a challenge deciding on the right program for him. He originally wanted to pursue a law degree, but when he lost interest in that career path, a friend’s advice helped him find the program that was right for him. With class offerings like Security Policies & Procedures, Ethical Hacking and Penetration, and Network Defense and Countermeasures, SRTC’s Cybersecurity program is perfect for students who want a cutting edge degree that provides them with critical skills high-tech companies all over the world are hiring for right now!
Q: What drew you to a career in Cybersecurity?
A friend recommended it to me after I decided not to go to law school. It was a perfect fit because I was already diving into that world after building my own PC.
Q: You have an internship at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. What are you enjoying about that opportunity?
I am enjoying the fact that I am taking what I have learned from my classes and applying it to real-world scenarios. I also love that I am learning a lot from all my co-workers in the IT department.
Q: What is your dream job?
I would like to work at a National Cybersecurity job.
Q: What were your greatest successes as a college student?
I was on the Dean’s List
Q: What were your greatest challenges as a college student?
I had a really hard time knowing what I wanted to pursue as a career after I decided not to go to law school.
Q: Will you be a first generation college graduate?
I am the youngest brother of 2 and I will be a first-generation college graduate in my family.
Q: Who are your biggest supporters?
My mom and my pastor David Oaks.
Q: How do your family and friends feel about you choosing this college and career path?
They are really proud and excited to see me reach the goals that I have set in life.
Q: How do you feel about your college and career path now that you have almost completed the program?
I feel like I have chosen the right path for me, and I feel very accomplished
Q: What have you enjoyed about the Cybersecurity program?
I love the fact that there is so much to learn and that I can build a career from.
Q: What advice would you give individuals who are considering a career in Cybersecurity?
My advice is to do it. There are a lot of job opportunities out there for cybersecurity
Q: What is the next step in your career path?
I am moving to Colorado to hopefully further my career in cybersecurity.
Q: What is your plan to achieve your goals?
I plan to keep working hard every day. I also plan to look at every failure as a lesson to get better as I pursue my career goal.
Q: Do you have any college or career tips to share with students who are struggling to hold it all together as far as life, family, school, work?
Keep pushing no matter how hard it may look because you will thank yourself when you are done.