True belonging and troubleshooting: cybersecurity student finds joy in ever-evolving field
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For some students, arriving to Western Michigan University is an exciting choice, made after careful consideration; for others, attending the university is a lifelong dream coming to fruition. But for cybersecurity student Rua Hamed Salim Al Rasbi studying at WMU was fate.
“I didn’t choose Western myself—my scholarship and embassy selected it for me, and I’m truly grateful they did,” says Al Rasbi, an international student from Oman. “This is my first time in the United States, and I was initially very nervous about how different everything might be.”
It was upon arrival in Kalamazoo that Al Rasbi realized that WMU was the perfect place for her undergraduate journey. Surrounded by decorated faculty, impressive technology and other eager international students, Al Rasbi flourished.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming everyone in Kalamazoo was,” says Al Rasbi, who is a Lee Honors College student and a member of the Omani Student Club. “The friendly community, support from faculty, and the presence of other international students really helped me feel at home and made the transition much smoother than I expected.”
Al Rasbi quickly found passion in the problem-solving aspects of computer systems. In choosing cybersecurity, she enjoys that the real-world applications from her classes could be applied to her future career. It excites Al Rasbi that the technology she is working with is always changing, creating an opportunity for life-long learning.
“There’s always something new to learn,” says Al Rasbi. “A unique opportunity in this field is being part of protecting critical systems and data. One challenge is that you have to keep learning continuously, but that’s also what makes it exciting.”
Cybersecurity is constantly in flux, according to Al Rasbi. She notes that faculty members, such as Dr. Kevin Ting-Yu Mu, M.S.’08, Ph.D.’19, faculty specialist II of business information systems, focus on students understanding and applying class content, rather than memorization.
“Dr. Mu is extremely talented and passionate about teaching,” says Al Rasbi. “He doesn’t just want students to memorize content—he makes sure we truly understand the concepts.”
Mu’s teaching gave Al Rasbi the knowledge she needed to feel confident in her skills as the technical world continues to alter around her. It was one of his courses, Windows System Administration, that left an impact on Al Rasbi, proving to her that she was on the right path to her future.
“We were tasked with troubleshooting and solving problems within Windows systems,” says Al Rasbi. “It was challenging, but I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect and the real-world application.”
Faculty support has been key to her skill-building ability. Dr. Steve Carr, chair and professor of the Department of Computer Science, has had significant impact on her confidence.
“His projects were directly related to the cybersecurity field and gave us practical knowledge that will benefit us in our careers,” says Al Rasbi. “Both instructors have played a big role in building my confidence and skills.”
Al Rasbi is currently searching for real-world experiences, knowing that she has the capability to enter her field successfully due to the experience-driven learning in her WMU courses.
“In the next five years, I see myself working in the cybersecurity department of a large organization—ideally in the petroleum or energy sector,” says Al Rasbi. “These industries are essential and face unique cybersecurity challenges, which makes them an exciting and meaningful field to be part of. I hope to apply the skills I’ve learned at WMU to help protect critical systems and contribute to global security efforts.”
Learn more about Western’s cybersecurity program at wmich.edu/cybersecurity.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.