UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State World Campus student Shamar Gordon loves to run. Mile by mile, he pushes through mental and physical fatigue in pursuit of conquering the road ahead. He may not always know what obstacles he'll face, but he keeps pushing, one step at a time.
An aspiring technology professional from Pennsylvania, Gordon said he sees his academic journey the same way: He calculated that he needed 123 credits to graduate with a Penn State bachelor’s degree.
“Every 15 credits each semester felt like another stretch of the race,” he said.
There were moments he wanted to stop, too, just like running. “I just kept pushing," he said.
A winding path
Gordon described himself as a very curious person. He is always searching for answers about the world around him, trying new paths in his journey.
“If I’m curious about it, I’m going to look it up and learn it,” he said.
As a teenager, he helped raise his younger siblings. He said it was important to make sure they and his mother were cared for.
“I became a mentor to both of them and tried to keep them on the right path,” he said.
Gordon set his own educational goals aside to focus on earning income for his family. His siblings finished their own races — both graduated from college, and one earned a master’s degree. Their successes, and a conversation with their mother, reminded him that he could push through college, too, he said.
He enrolled at a local community college and then a four-year university. However, he said, he recognized the school wasn’t the right environment for him. He transferred to Penn State World Campus to continue pursuing his education.
His interest in the cybersecurity analytics and operations online bachelor’s program grew naturally from his instinct to dig deeper into the world surrounding him alongside his love of technology.
Hands-on experience
Through his course work, Gordon explored cybersecurity, risk analysis and programming. He took an increased interest in memory analysis, internal system defense testing and forensics. The work was challenging, he said, especially sifting through massive amounts of data using tools like Volatility 3. He collaborated with classmates on projects and connected with both online and residential peers through the Cybersecurity Club.
“It was fascinating to learn,” he said.
The undergraduate cybersecurity analytics and operations program requires students to complete an internship. Gordon worked with a nonprofit Christian school, where he upgraded firewalls, strengthened data systems and maintained system hardware alongside his supervisor.
His experience allowed him to apply the skills and concepts he learned through his online program, which is offered in partnership with the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Crossing the finish line
With his family members cheering, Gordon graduated in December 2025, earning a bachelor of science degree in cybersecurity analytics and operations. He said he is proud to have achieved his goal and grateful for his personal growth through the experience.
“As I look back on the journey now that it’s coming to an end, I’m going to miss all the people I interacted with,” he said. “Everybody can teach you something from their perspective.”
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