Abbie Henderson

I got into computer science entirely accidentally. I wanted to study IT at GCSE, but due to there not being enough students having chose the course, I decided to go with what I thought was the next best thing, which was computer science. It was taking that GCSE that I discovered a passion for all things computer science, specifically cyber security. I found it incredible how something as small as opening a tiny inconspicuous email attachment could cause such massive shockwaves, such as the ILOVEYOU worm. I wanted to understand this technology as much as possible.

The campus drew me towards Edge Hill, it is such a nice place to study! I especially like the Catalyst. Having gone to an open day, I met the lecturers and staff who were all so lovely. That has remained true during the course of my studies, making me feel like an actual person rather than just a number. My favourite place on campus is wherever I can get my hands on coffee, either Costa or the Catalyst cafe!

My independence has grown during my time at Edge Hill. I really have taken control of my own studies, and just become more independent as a whole. I even taught myself a new coding language for my final year research project, Dart. I have been able to network as a student, as we are really encouraged to use sites such as LinkedIn and share achievements, making me more attractive to employers. Though I do cyber security, forensics and networking, my first year and beyond helped me solidify my programming skills. I got to brush up on the basic python from GCSE, and learn new languages such as Java, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

My most memorable moment was definitely the End of Year Showcase in 3rd year. It’s a chance to showcase and demonstrate your final project to 1st and 2nd year students, staff and employers alike. I found that it gave me the confidence to present my skills in a way that will benefit me in my career endeavours and prospects.

My favourite thing about this subject is how it is ever changing. Technological advancements happen on a daily basis and developments in A.I create new cybersecurity threats in the digital landscape, requiring newer and more sophisticated mechanisms to prevent them. It is also in every area you can imagine, making it a solid career path. There will always be room for me.

The career path I want to go into requires the completion of many certifications, most of which can cost up to £300-£500. Edge Hill offer free Microsoft fundamentals tests, as well as chances to do more. For example, I won a place to complete a Security Operations Center (SOC) SAL1 course, which will provide me with an overview of SOCs, and provide me with a head start. Initiatives such as this really help me in my career.

When I graduate, I will be continuing my studies to do a postgraduate in AI and data science. However, after that, I hope to be able to intertwine both my A.I and cybersecurity degrees to help the efforts to combat developing cybersecurity challenges with A.I.

My advice to anyone considering this course is to utilise the draft hand ins! It really helps to get feedback from the lecturers, before the final hand in. This way, you won’t be scared to open blackboard grade book and see your grades.

I lived in main halls first year, and met a few friends for life there. I think it’s an essential to get yourself stuck into uni life. However, sometimes it doesn’t work out with these people and that’s okay, it will teach you the type of people whom you may not mesh with. There are plenty of other ways to meet friends on campus such as societies and sports. Either way, no matter how you use the campus, living on it for at least the first year of your degree will benefit you. In my 2nd and 3rd year I lived a short walk from the university, and found that this suited me much better as I was a stones throw from shops and the train station. I enjoyed the walk to uni much more than living on campus.