Hi, I’m Wayne, you might also know my Online name as Synthetika. I’ve always felt like my story needed a place to live, so I decided to start this blog and see where it goes.
If I’m being honest, my journey could probably fill a short novel. I even tried writing it all out once in a massive Medium post. It was long enough that I wouldn’t blame anyone for tapping out halfway through, but at that moment I needed to pour everything onto the page.
Here’s the shorter version. I walked away from a management position at the company I still work for because I felt a pull toward cybersecurity. At the time, I thought the transition would be simple. It wasn’t. In fact, it has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and also one of the most rewarding.
I think the real turning point for me came last year at HackSpaceCon. That’s where I met Jason Haddix and Ryan, better known online as Roll4combat. We ended up having dinner that night and even watched a rocket launch together, which is something I’ll never forget. A few weeks later, they invited me to take the TBHM class. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to attend that class.
Fast forward to today and I was fortunate enough to attend Defcon with Arcanum and help support their brand and company. Along this journey I’ve met some incredible people who inspire me every day to keep pushing forward. What always amazes me is how quick they are to downplay their own accomplishments. From my perspective, though, they’re not only talented hackers but also great people, and they should be proud of everything they’ve achieved.
As of now, I’m still looking for a role in IT, but I’m not in a rush. I’m taking my time and trying to enjoy the process. Life is full, to say the least. I’ve been married for twenty years, we have a six-year-old daughter, I’m in school, working full time, and studying for the CPTS exam. Keeping all of that in balance isn’t easy, and I’m sure a lot of people can relate. One of the biggest sacrifices I made was cutting back on gaming, which was always my go-to escape, but it gave me more time to focus on what matters most.
I would like to thank
Jason and Julia Haddix for everything they have done for me.
Monke for being the first Hacker to actually talk to me and becoming a really good friend.
Roll4Combat for sending out a message and talking to me at Hackspacecon.
And All the Homies you guys are so amazing thank you.