Three years ago, I was a claims adjuster at GEICO. Today, I work in Application Security. No, I didn't take the traditional route. I didn't code in my mom's basement as a kid or major in Computer Science (shoutout to my fellow nursing-school-to-health-science-to-wait-do-I-really-want-student-loan-debt girlies). I found an apprenticeship that took a chance on someone with a "can-do attitude" and exactly zero tech experience.

And honestly? AppSec found me. I was actually looking at data analytics when this opportunity popped up. Someone looked at my resume, saw "claims adjuster" and "communication skills" and said "yeah, we can teach her the tech stuff." And they were right.

Here's what I've learned: AppSec needs more than just the smartest tech guy in the room who can't explain a concept without making your eyes glaze over. (Side eye. You know who you are.) We need the communicators. The SOP writers. The people who can translate "vulnerability exploitation" into something that sounds like normal human conversation. Cooking analogies. Building a house analogies. "Remember how you shop online?" analogies.

This space is for:

• People trying to break into tech without the "right" background
• Fellow personality hires who know our charm is a technical skill
• Anyone who's ever sat through a security meeting and thought "what did he just say?"
• Career-switchers, apprentices, and the eternally curious

I'm documenting what I wish existed when I started: an AppSec cheat sheet for dummies (respectfully). The stuff they don't tell you. The rigor nobody prepares you for. But also the reason it's worth it. (AI-proof career? Yes please.)

I'm Demetria. I'm charming, chatty, and committed to explaining hard things simply. If you're looking for a corporate robot, this isn't your page. If you're looking for a real person who just wants to help people stay safe online while keeping it fun? Welcome. We're gonna get along great.

Now let's talk AppSec like normal humans.