Summers Over…

Secondroot.dev / Field Notes - October 2025

Ok, I’m not going to lie, your girl got a little off track! This summer has been one for the books: conferences, training, running 5ks, date nights, looking for a new home, girl nights, and celebrating my 39th birthday. I’ve had the time of my life this summer, and I’m not mad at it. Honestly? I deserved it.

That being said, it did throw me a little off with Second Root and my studies.(Not completely though! I still networked, built connections in tech, and had some good convos that opened doors…more on that later 👀).

With all the fun I’ve been having, I decided to push my Security+ exam date back to January 2026. I went back and forth on this, but here’s the truth: it’s not that I’m unprepared knowledge wise, it’s that my head hasn’t been fully locked in. And I want to give myself the best possible shot at passing.

I’m not going to beat myself up over it, either. The fact that I even created the opportunity to sit for this exam is a blessing in itself. A year ago, I wasn’t even in the position to test and now I am. That’s progress!

So, I’m recalibrating my timeline, here are my next steps:

• Lock back in on daily Security+ study blocks.

• Knock out more HackTheBox labs and document them.

• Stay consistent with Second Root updates (even small ones like this).

• Keep networking! Being around the right people in the right rooms are inspiring.

The mission hasn’t changed. I’m still building, still training, still moving toward the woman I said id become. This is just me making sure I get there ready.