I began working in IT two years ago. The plan was to pivot into software development once I had built a strong foundation. I've had some exposure to development, including brief work training Azure AI models, but the bulk of my experience has focused on systems administration, automation, and security, learning whatever was required to keep things running. At a smaller company, I've had the flexibility to take initiative with projects outside the scope of my role. Recognizing the need to reduce repetitive and manual tasks, I began building automation for deployments, workstation and server builds, vulnerability scanning, and patching. That turned into a growing interest in DevOps and systems engineering. But I'm not fixed on one path. I try to stay curious, stay on top of emerging technologies, and build things that solve real problems. Now that I've built a strong foundation, I'm now sharpening my skills through completing a computer science degree, acquiring certifications, as well as personal projects. Try cat README.md