Dee’sCYBER CORNER

The resource library

Resources.
What helped me grow.

Cybersecurity resources from my own journey, plus a few more that others may find helpful.

What actually worked for me

Dee’s Holy Grail

My three favorite resources

  1. 01

    Hands-on practice

    TryHackMe

    One of my favorite platforms for hands-on cybersecurity practice. It helped me apply what I was learning.

    Visit TryHackMe ↗
  2. 02

    Blue team · SOC

    LetsDefend

    One of my favorite resources for practicing blue-team concepts, SOC investigations, and security analysis.

    Visit LetsDefend ↗
  3. 03

    Certification study

    Professor Messer

    Professor Messer has been with me throughout my studies and certification journey. His lessons have been one of my go-to resources for understanding technical concepts.

    Visit Professor Messer ↗
01As someone with ADHD, this is what helped me The study methods that worked for me

I have ADHD, and throughout college I had to discover study techniques that helped me stay focused, understand concepts, and retain information. These are the methods that personally helped me.

  • Pomodoro Method

    I used focused study sessions with breaks in between instead of trying to study continuously for hours.

  • Active Recall

    I would study a topic, put my notes away, and try to remember what I had learned without looking at the answers. This helped me identify which concepts I understood and which ones needed more attention.

  • Teaching Myself the Lesson Back

    After learning something, I would explain it back to myself in my own words, almost as though I were teaching someone else. This helped me understand concepts rather than simply memorize them.

  • Creating My Own Quizzes

    I would create practice quizzes based on what I was studying. Quizzing myself helped me test my understanding, remember information, and identify weak areas.

  • Short Study Sessions

    I found that studying in shorter sessions worked better for me than forcing myself to sit for long periods. I focused on manageable amounts of information at a time.

02How I prepared for certifications My step-by-step process

I hold over 12 industry certifications, so I feel like I’ve got cert prep down (until they change the exams, lol). When it came to certification, this is what I did.

  1. Search Reddit and DiscordI search Reddit and Discord for tips and to gather the study notes and resources people used when they passed. I’m currently in college, so these communities have been a big help.
  2. Download the official exam objectivesThe objectives tell you exactly what can be on the exam. Everything on them is up for grabs.
  3. Turn the objectives into a study planI put the objectives into an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude to create a study plan and clear up any gray areas. While I study, I have it break information down so simply that a toddler could understand it. You’re taking in a lot, so make it digestible for you.
  4. Pair my notes with videosOnce I have my study plan and notes, I pair them with YouTube videos. For Security+, I used Professor Messer’s videos, and he has study materials too.
  5. Prefer not to use AI? Use reputable study materialIf you’d rather not use ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI tools, look at who offers trusted study material. I’ve used Jason Dion and Professor Messer, and there are plenty of others. Do your research.
  6. Don’t overcomplicate itSee what’s being covered, study, take practice tests, and give it a shot.
03Build a portfolio you can speak to It doesn’t have to be a thousand labs

My Azure honeypot lab is the one hiring managers kept asking about. What made the difference wasn’t how many labs I had. It was being able to explain that one, step by step.

  1. Quality over quantityYou don’t need a thousand labs. Two to four labs you can explain front to back will do more for you than a long list you can’t talk about.
  2. Align it with what you’re applying toMake sure your labs match the roles you want. Read the job description, then build or highlight the labs that fit: a SOC role, show detection and investigation. An IAM role, show identity lifecycle and SSO. Cloud security, show cloud monitoring. GRC, show a risk assessment. If your labs don’t line up with the jobs you’re applying to, that’s your next lab.
  3. Know it front to backBe ready to explain what you built, why you built it, the choices you made, what went wrong, and what you’d do differently. The first time an interviewer asked me to walk through my lab, I wasn’t ready. After that, I made sure I knew every step.
  4. Practice “walk me through it” out loudHave a two-minute version of each lab: the problem, what you built, what you found, and what you learned. Say it out loud until it feels natural.
  5. Document as you goTake screenshots and notes while you work. It’s much harder to recreate them later, and they become your evidence.
  6. Write it up so others can followFor each lab, write the problem, the tools, the steps, the results, and your takeaways. Put it on GitHub or your own site so you can share one link.
  7. Keep it currentAdd new labs as you grow and update the old ones. Your portfolio grows with you.

Depth beats a long list.

04College survival tips Lessons from finishing college with ADHD

Lessons from completing college while managing ADHD and other responsibilities.

  • Finding study methods that fit how you learn.
  • Breaking assignments and difficult topics into smaller pieces.
  • Using short study sessions to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  • Taking breaks when needed.
  • Testing your knowledge instead of only rereading material.
  • Explaining concepts out loud to improve understanding.
  • Finding supportive learning communities.
  • Staying consistent without expecting perfection.
  • Remembering that everyone’s learning journey is different.

Resource Library

25 resources · ★ = one of my favorites

Funding Opportunities

3 resources

Scholarships and programs that can help pay for training, certifications, and school.

My Study Toolkit

8 resources

Courses, videos, and learning paths for building knowledge and preparing for certifications.

Hands-On Practice

6 resources

Labs and challenges where you apply what you learn.

Cyber Communities

8 resources

Groups and spaces where you can learn from people further along.

Know a resource that should be here? Drop it in the suggestion box →

These links go to other websites. Programs, prices, and offerings change, so check each site for current details. Nothing here is sponsored.