Ozlem Dalgic

Position: Security Engineer
Categories: ranger feedback

I have arrived at the end of this road that I had entered after looking at my schedule one day, saying “Having this much time I should do something.” After deciding to take training regarding cybersecurity I searched for training for days, I had asked my employed friends. I did plunder Facebook and Twitter. There was already some principal training that all had a duration between 3-5 days. I was thinking to go one of them. As all of my friends which I have consulted said that they are only teaching certain things shallowly, you can also learn by yourself. Because what I seek was not learning to use a few tools but to gain experience. As I was complaining about all the pieces of training being the same, I coincided to Cyber Struggle on twitter. Sure at first glance, it took my interest; But how could I count on it.

 It was a program to be made for the first and even more, it was a very challenging program both mentally and psychologically. For this reason, I had to think it through really well. Even on top of that, the training was taking place in Istanbul but I was at Ankara. I investigated again, did some more researches and then I made my crazy decision. I did no longer have 10 week-ends as a graduate student. I will get on the bus after exiting my lesson at 2 pm on Friday and I travel back to Ankara on Sunday night at 00.00 am. I mean I used to 😀 When there was a need, I took an exam sleepless in the morning. I studied at the bus, I did homework. I experienced bizarre setbacks that I can not finish by telling. Of course, this is only to arrive in Istanbul. For some of our friends, participating in this training meant so much more effort than simply shutting their door and leaving. If you ask me ‘Did it worth it?’, it did. Let’s come to why it did because Cyber Struggle at first teaches you not to give up. It makes you realize your power that is capable of handling hardships. It teaches you what the concept of struggle means.

It prepares you to the challenges of the work-life. It teaches you to handle stress. In technical means, it transfers knowledge and experience. You can learn a lot of things which you can not learn by researching. You have to be disciplined and punctual. Or you get the warning. You have to be accessible every moment of every day, yes even in the sweetest period of your sleep. At first, you learn to use the program unconsciously if there is a program to be used, then you use a ready-make, you learn to handle a real incident when you come across it. Everything you can think of regarding the cyber world is already available in the training program anyway. The one thing you need is the desire to learn. What is the concept of crime? For example. Cyber Struggle is a program in which the answer to how does a crime is in the cyber world and the real world is something we can discuss. Surely, we can not tell everything for the sake of not giving a spoiler to the new unit.

Saying unit, yes, you are having a unit, unity friends and headquarters orders. While I was mentioning your need to be disciplined, I was talking about military discipline. Surely, there will be some surprises ahead of you that I can not mention. With online courses, mentors who have different expertise share their experience. You will learn the meaning of teamwork and you will learn to think of the person next to you primarily. You will learn not to leave anybody behind. In this training your ego will be hammered, there is also the field training exercises that I can say nothing but “It can not be told but can only be experienced.” As you are already distracted and frustrated due to sleeplessness, hunger, exhaustion, waiting for hours, when you also challenged physically, the only reason for you not to give up is your teammates. When you accomplish this, there is no happier than you. When we are doing these, even talking with the mentors, Instructor Kubilay simultaneously tells us the equivalent of these things in the cyber world. All the things you have learned will be connected with the cyber world tomorrow if not today and then every piece falls into its place: This is the purpose of the training. Despite the misfortunes and hardships resulting from the fact that it was the training’s first time being carried out, we all acquired technical information and mental power. Shortly, it is öa program in which you can empower yourself both technically and socially, do so much more than just learning a few instruments and above all you can learn to become a family. I am sure that you will have this training among the memories that will never be forgotten in your life. It was worth every Sunday night running around with my pillow in my hand in bus terminal, at midnight while I was struggling with all kinds of homework, project, and exams in my mind. If you are a person saying ” I can not tolerate hardships.

 I give up easily. I can not handle being sleepless. I don’t have any craziness in me, I am just a normal person.” Then there will 2 choices for you; Either you will show a little courage and enter this road towards becoming part of the team or you should run away ASAP. I thank our program manager who is working for us more than we work for ourselves, for all of his efforts, to our mentors for sharing their knowledge and experiences and I also thank my teammates for their support. Good luck to the new crew.If you are a person saying ” I can not tolerate hardships. I give up easily. I can not handle being sleepless. I don’t have any craziness in me, I am just a normal person.” Then there will be 2 choices for you; Either you will show a little courage and enter this road towards becoming part of the team or you should run away ASAP. 

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