Why I’m Learning Cybersecurity in 2025 (No Money, No Certs, No Problem)

The Door Wasn’t Open — So I’m Building My Own

I didn’t grow up surrounded by tech.

No fancy gadgets. No older sibling showing me how things worked.

Just a secondhand phone that overheated if I watched more than two videos,

slow internet that froze every five minutes,

and a whole lot of “I don’t even know where to start.”

While everyone else seemed to be enrolling in courses,

joining bootcamps, or flexing their certifications on social media…

I was quietly typing “how to learn cybersecurity for free” into Google,

hoping it wasn’t already too late for someone like me to catch up.

For a long time, I believed this path wasn’t made for people like me.

I thought you had to grow up in it — be born wealthy, have connections, or just be naturally brilliant.

I’d scroll through my feed and see people building home labs,

earning shiny new certs, talking in a language that felt foreign.

Meanwhile, I was stuck trying to understand the difference

between a port and a protocol.

And yet… even with all the confusion,

something inside me kept whispering, “Don’t give up. You belong here too.”

Why I Chose to Keep Going (Even When It Felt Pointless)

There were days when I wanted to quit.

When none of the YouTube tutorials made sense.

When I’d open a cybersecurity course and close it five minutes later

because the terms felt like a different language.

There were moments I asked myself:

“Am I wasting my time?”

“Will anyone even take me seriously without certs or experience?”

But then I’d remember why I started.

I wasn’t chasing clout.

I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

I just wanted a better life.

I wanted to learn something that could give me options —

freedom, skills, and a future I could be proud of.

I realized that showing up every day — even when it’s messy —

is more powerful than waiting for everything to be perfect.

What Keeps Me Going

Every time I finally understand a new concept —

it feels like unlocking a little superpower I didn’t know I had.

Like a lightbulb going off in my brain,

reminding me that I’m actually making progress.

The small wins matter.

Finishing a tutorial.

Solving a problem that confused me last week.

Learning a new tool, even if it takes me a while.

Each one is a brick in the foundation I’m building.

And then there are the messages.

People asking, “How did you even start?”

I see myself in them, that same curiosity, that same fear.

It reminds me that this journey isn’t just mine.

I’m not doing this for anyone.

I’m doing it with them.

Because we’re all figuring it out together.

And honestly? That keeps me going more than anything.

The Truth About Starting From Zero

Starting with nothing doesn’t mean staying at nothing.

I had no roadmap, no paid course, no mentor in my inbox.

But I had curiosity.

And that curiosity led me to free courses.

It led me to cybersecurity YouTube channels, forums, blogs, communities.

I started asking questions.

Even dumb ones.

Especially the dumb ones.

That’s how I learned.

It’s not about how fast you move —

It’s about not stopping.

The truth is:

Most people don’t even start.

And of the ones who do?

Most give up too soon.

But if you can just outlast the fear…

if you can stick around long enough to gain clarity —

you will grow. You will level up.

If You're Thinking About Cybersecurity Too...

Let me say this clearly as I can:

You don’t need to be rich.

You don’t need to be a genius.

You just need to start — right where you are.

Nobody shows up on day one feeling confident.

They show up curious.

And that’s enough.

Even if all you can do is watch one 10-minute video a day,

that’s 365 videos in a year.

That’s hundreds of new ideas, tools, and skills added to your brain —

one step at a time.

Now pause…

and really imagine where you could be in just six months

if you simply stay consistent.

It doesn’t take perfection.

It just takes movement.

Real Talk Before I Go:

You don’t need anyone’s permission to change your life.

Not your background, not your bank account, not even your doubts.

All you really need is Wi-Fi… and a reason that’s strong enough to keep you going.

Yes — cybersecurity is hard.

It’s confusing, frustrating, and sometimes overwhelming.

But it’s also one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever committed to.

And if I could start this journey with zero dollars,

no fancy certifications, and absolutely no experience...

Then honestly —

so can you.

And now, I’m Building This in Public

I’m not an expert.

Not yet.

But I’m sharing my journey openly

so that someone like me sees it and feels less alone.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve felt what I felt —

that doubt, that fear, that hunger for more.

This is your sign.

You don’t need permission.

You just need to move.

I’m not here to flex.

I’m here to grow — out loud — and bring others with me.

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