Cybersecurity skills that matter

672 hours of intensive study and 24 hours of grueling struggle to earn 80 points. Thank you, OffSec , for a nice Christmas gift.

The OSCP from OffSec is not just proof of effort in sharpening your critical thinking; it goes beyond computer security, emphasizing the fragile line between cybersecurity and human nature.

When others quit, I double down. ⚡ I took on the toughest offensive security challenges — and crushed them. ✅ OSEP – Outsmarted defenses. ✅ OSWE – Owned the web. ✅ OSED – Bent machines to my will. “Try Harder” isn’t advice anymore. It’s who I am.

What I discovered is that the OSCP environment is exactly what OffSec promises: tough, but fair. The exam isn’t designed like a capture-the-flag puzzle. It’s designed for penetration testers. The machines reward methodical enumeration, patience, and professional decision-making — the very same skills needed in real client engagements.

“Try Harder” has always been more than a slogan for me - it’s a mindset. For this exam, I committed fully. I purchased the 90-day OffSec OSCP subscription bundle, trusted the process, and treated those three months like a mission. I focused on fundamentals, repetition, and really understanding why things worked - not just memorizing steps. That consistency paid off, and I was able to pass on my first attempt.

What makes the PEN-200 exam so humbling is how holistic it is. It’s not just technical skill. It’s organization, mental endurance, logistics, time management, and tactical decision-making — all under pressure. The exam is strictly 24 hours. And honestly? I’ve loved that challenge. Ironically, this journey has made me an even better defender. Understanding why certain controls exist, why detections can’t be static, and why continuous threat modeling matters has reinforced how real this cybersecurity “warfare” is. It’s a privilege to work in a field that genuinely contributes to keeping societies secure.