Finding Joy in the Journey: Sonika’s Path to Cybersecurity
From a struggling student to mentor, her journey of resilience and passion for a safer digital world.
As the eldest daughter in a working-class family, Sonika always aspired to be an independent woman and contribute financially to her family’s well-being. At 19, she received her first paycheck. Sonika’s eyes beam with excitement as she reflected, “It marked the beginning of a career that would bring many long-held dreams to life: financial independence, the ability to provide for my family, material comforts, and so much more. This was the start of it all for me.”
From a young age, Sonika was a very curious child and good at mathematics. So, she embarked on a journey of becoming a Computer Engineer, fueled by the hope of Crafting a brighter future tomorrow. Yet, the Journey was not easy without its twists and turns. Because of not having any background in computer science, Sonika struggled a lot at the beginning of her undergraduate studies. She recalls failing her C Programming internal test many times and not having her laptop made it harder. But All is well when the end is well, she was able to perform well in her final assessment exams.
“The struggle with C programming was a very humble experience to reflect that, the pressure exists for my growth. Growth always comes out of difficult times. It shaped me into the person I am today Sonika shares.”
During her college years, Sonika actively participated in the college IT club, inter-college hackathons, and different technical boot camps which helped her kickstart her career. Engaging in various events and initiative programs helped her develop important skills and grow as a person. Sonika’s involvement reinforced her belief in herself, empowering her to take on new challenges with determination and enthusiasm.
During her undergraduate years, Sonika attended an Information Security event that sparked a passion for Cybersecurity. Determined to get into this rapidly evolving field, she embarked on her master’s Journey in Security and Cloud Computing, earning the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Scholarship at Aalto University in Finland along the way. “In Cybersecurity there is always a new challenge and new ways to look into things and it is very fascinating to me. I truly enjoy this.” Sonika shares.
As a woman navigating the male-dominated landscape of cybersecurity, Sonika was disheartened by the lack of female representation. And she recognized that this wasn’t just a problem in Nepal; it was a problem globally. But instead of just accepting things as they were. she wanted to contribute her knowledge and skills for betterment. As she looks forward to giving back to Nepal, Sonika is determined to share her knowledge and uplift young girls in the field of cybersecurity. With her work in SAFER- I, she aims to empower the next generation of young girls.
Sonika’s dedication to mentorship and community engagement has been a game-changer in her journey. In 2018, Sonika was awarded a nine-month-long Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT) Fellowship which introduced her to creating a culture of mentoring a generation of young women. So right after she finished her fellowship journey, Sonika joined as a technical mentor herself. Since then, she has been a part of a team that has successfully trained 6 batches of 75+ young women till 2023.
”During my undergraduate years, I noticed a significant shortage of young women studying in technical fields and working in related industries. So, When I joined WLIT in 2018 as a program fellow I knew I wanted to help other women to transition from student life to successful careers.”
Sonika’s favorite feminist influencer is Astronaut Kellie Gerardi. She likes how Kellie is vocal about her career goals, her motherhood, and many more aspects of life that we don’t talk enough about. Her favourite quote is “Competition happens at the bottom, but celebration happens at the top.”
In her free time, Sonika enjoys playing the guitar, she finds peace in listening to music. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, Sonika also loves spending time in nature, where she can appreciate the beauty of the world. Sonika’s love for teaching and giving back to the community further enriches her life’s purpose.
When asked about her definition of happiness, Sonika’s answer reflects her journey: “Happiness for me is life’s simple pleasures and the tranquility of a peaceful mind.”
Sonika strongly believes that never giving up is the most important thing in life. No matter the struggle, consistency is key. Sonika emphasizes the power of positivity and maintaining hope as essential elements in achieving personal goals.
For young girls, Sonika’s advice is a call to action: “There is always something that intrigues everyone. If you ever have the opportunity listen to that voice. Investing time in things you love is very rewarding. Please take time to recognize that voice.”
This article was written by Shreeya Tamang, a valuable member of Nepali Women+ in Computing for Nepali Women+ in Computing — CELEBRATE.
