I get asked often (typically after I speak at an event or finish a live class) about advice for pursuing a career in cyber security. I have posted about this HERE and HERE as well as speak about this in my SOC book. I saw this post by Avital HERE and found it to fill some of the gaps I missed to cover.
I like his advice about how to use your time in college as well as thoughts for landing the first job. I agree that there is a balance between focusing on school and taking a mental break from anything school related so you enjoy the “college experience” as well as clear your mind between learning to avoid burning out. I personally live by this. If im feeling burned out, I go train futbal / soccer for an hour. No phone. No emails. Im off the grid and mentally focused on my training. This allows me to come back to my work fresh and energized vs taking many mini breaks searching the web or walking to get water. This practice applies from k-12 to employment. Success will come if you are happy and focused. Great advice.
The other points I liked was about getting the first job and being good at the first job. I personally landed an IT job at a retirement home right out of college. I forced myself not only to be good at coding, but also good at backing up showing rooms to people interested in living at the home. You gave me a task, and I would own it. Later I moved and answered phones for Northrop Grumman for a temp service. You asked me to do more, I would take it. And eventually people gave me access to certification training allowing me to get CCPN certified within a month. That led me to move from receptionist to customer facing engineer shocking many that had been waiting for that opportunity for years via the desktop support and other teams. If you are good at whatever your first job is and ask for more, people will give you more. That will lead to you leap frogging those that just do the job.
Again, check out the Avital post The advice I would give on a mentorship call if you are about to enter college, in college, or about to graduate. This is good advice.