Alessandra Conta
Computer Science Student
About
Hello! I have never liked linear paths. Do you know what I really like? Exploring,
going on adventures in pursuit of knowledge, engaging my brain and
losing track of time. So, if reading my CV brings to mind
the question (spoiler alert!) "why should a librarian learn programming and cybersecurity?", please come back here and read the first
few lines :)
If, on the other hand, the question is "what could she have learned
as a librarian that is also useful in cybersecurity?" you can go
to the "What I did" section. I had a lot of fun connecting the dots.
What I'm doing
I’m currently a Computer Science student at Università degli studi di Torino.
I've studied at 42 Firenze school,
a computer programming school based on peer-learning and
hands-on projects, without teachers or classes.
While collaborating with the other students and exchanging ideas with them,
I accidentally stumbled on cybersecurity and a whole
world opened before my eyes. I started reading about it, then studying
something about it, then devouring entire books, courses and hands-on
practice on websites like TryHackMe.
I have so much to learn, so why should I stop for eating?
*stomach growling*
Meanwhile I sharpen my coding skills in every way I can. Using Codewars,
trying to solve the Advent of Code quizzes, and of course with the
42 Firenze projects.
I’m currently using and learning Python and C.
Programming languages: Python, C
Other tools: Bash, SQL
OS: Linux
What I did
I worked as a librarian for about 10 years, in two different
roles: as a reference and a cataloging librarian.
For the first 6 years I was a reference librarian, the person
who meets the public and answers questions.
A popular joke
among librarians goes that we’re like Google… but better.
The reality is that we’re very good at using Google and a
lot of other resources to find information.
People asked me for all kinds of information:
the precise steps to untangle Italian bureaucracy,
lists of organizations, bibliographies on a wide variety of topics,
checking the reliability of information in their possession,
instructions on how to do something on the computer,
researching books of which they could remember neither
the author nor the title ("But the cover is blue!"), and so on.
Over the last 4 years as a librarian, I then moved to the dark side:
cataloging resources. This role has taught me a great deal about
organizing information so that it is easily accessible to those seeking it.
It was at this stage that I began to explore more technical topics,
such as linked open data applied to library catalogs. And also topics
related to digital libraries.
The first step toward transitioning to a more technical career was
"I want to be a digital librarian!". From there to starting coding
took about a month, during which time I was carried away by serendipity.
Serendipity is something I use whenever I want to get out of my
knowledge bubble and it works like a charm.
So why cybersecurity? I have found a field of knowledge that
allows me to play with the ability to look for information,
to use critical thinking, to use my eye for detail,
to look for something that you don't
even know if it is there or not (and that is beyond fun) and to
keep learning for the rest of my life. Really? Are you really asking why?