Angel Sanchez has one piece of advice for any adult fearful of college. 

“Do it scared,” he said. “Starting over is not failure; it shows courage.” 

Sanchez understands what it means to face his fears. A decade after finishing high school and with the encouragement of his girlfriend, he enrolled at College of DuPage. It wasn’t easy working full-time while attending classes, but he committed himself to his studies. He even came across the Cybersecurity and Information Technology Club by accident and, while worried about his lack of knowledge, allowed his curiosity to lead him to a rewarding experience. 

Creating spaces where students felt comfortable asking questions and experimenting with new concepts has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at COD.

Angel Sanchez

Having worked through his fears and gained confidence, Sanchez graduated with his Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity and Defense and was named one of COD’s outstanding graduates, an honor that surprised him. 

“I am a first-generation college student and the son of immigrant parents who worked tirelessly to create opportunities for their family,” he said. “Their dedication and resilience instilled in me a deep appreciation for education and the importance of perseverance. So even though I was scared when I came to COD, I learned how to put myself out there.”

Sanchez initially wanted to attend college after finishing high school, but financially he did not want to go into debt. Instead, he held a series of jobs, from working on vehicles at a family auto shop to building cabinetry. The latter required driving, and while doing so he listened to podcasts that discussed famous malwares and cybersecurity. 

“I found it super interesting,” he said. “Although I was tired every day, this made me think about going back to school and studying cybersecurity—and I made the decision to do so.” 

He found COD and liked its affordability. As someone who loves to learn but can get bored easily, Sanchez wanted to ensure he was not incurring debt if it didn’t work out.

Thankfully, the exact opposite happened. He knew COD was the right decision as soon as he started two of his first classes, “Intro to Networking” and “Intro to Film Arts.” With cybersecurity and defense, Sanchez found a career that keeps him engaged and one that requires continuous education, due in part to rapid technological advances.

One day while looking for an empty classroom where he could study, Sanchez accidentally entered one where the Cybersecurity and Information Technology Club was meeting. Although he didn’t understand all the topics they addressed and initially felt out of place, he was fascinated by the discussion. 

A year later, he was one of the club leaders and found himself participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s CyberForce Competition. During the event, students apply classroom knowledge and creative thinking in a realistic cybersecurity environment where teams work to defend simulated infrastructure from cyber threats.

“What made the experience especially meaningful was encouraging other students to take part,” he said. “Several of my peers initially felt intimidated by the competition and were unsure whether they were ready. Having felt similar doubts, I encouraged them to give it a try and reminded them that these experiences are where we grow the most.

“Creating spaces where students felt comfortable asking questions and experimenting with new concepts has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at COD. Experiences like this helped me realize that cybersecurity is about building communities of people willing to learn, adapt and face difficult challenges together as much as it is about protecting systems.”

After graduation, Sanchez will transfer to study cybersecurity while earning multiple industry-standard certifications, such as those from CompTIA and Cisco. His goal is to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees and perhaps a Ph.D. to prepare for a career as a chief information security officer, protecting an organization’s critical infrastructure from emerging digital threats. 

As for COD, he thanks everyone for helping him conquer his fears, especially such professors as Tony Chen and Justin Wagner. 

“I never expected to meet such amazing people,” Sanchez said. “All of the professors push you, and when you have a breakthrough, it’s an amazing feeling. The guidance and encouragement I received from faculty, advisors and fellow students have been instrumental in helping me build both confidence and direction in my academic journey, providing an environment where I could grow both academically and personally.”

Learn more about the Computer and Information Technology program at College of DuPage.