Empower Cylus' Future in Cyber Security

I have some very exciting news to share about my son, Cylus! He has been recognized for his outstanding test score on the pre-ACT and offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the National Student Leadership Conference this summer. Most students score a 19-20 but Cylus raised the bar and scored a 29 out of 30! His teacher was surprised to see such a high score and that is coming from an educator who works with a school full of exceptional students taking concurrent enrollment classes.

Cylus has always been the type to set the bar high and challenge the adults around him. I have had many parent teacher conferences where the teachers have admitted to spending extra time trying to foster Cylus' need to learn at a fast pace. I've been told countless times that Cylus has made them think outside of the box when it comes to how they present their lessons or even during conversations they have with him after class.

Outside of school, computers have always been his passion. He wanted a gaming computer when he was about 10 years old. When I realized how much one would cost, I knew it was not within my budget. By the time he was 12, he had earned and saved enough money to buy all of the components and build the computer he had wanted on his own. I know my bias is strong, but this shows the level of maturity and dedication Cylus has when it is something he is passionate about.

Cylus made up his mind about pursuing a career in cyber security and this program will give him the opportunity to learn what it will take for him to be successful in this field. He will experience life on a college campus at Johns Hopkins University, living in a dorm and attending leadership courses. He will also get to meet with renowned experts in the cyber security industry and see what they do day to day. At the end of the program, he will receive a certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation to use for his college applications.

Seeing his passion in computers made me believe he will either be an asset to our national security or work his way to world domination through hacking. Of course, I want him to choose the path that does not lead to prison. Being a single mom, I am doing everything I can to earn extra money to pay for this program, including donating plasma as much as possible. The money we are raising will go towards the cost of the program, his flights to and from the university and his expenses while he is there. Help me influence him to use his powers for good and not evil. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated more than I can put into words.