I Was Called “Aspiring” — Then I Realized I Had Already Started Becoming

I Was Called “Aspiring” — Then I Realized I Had Already Started Becoming
A small comment on LinkedIn made me question how I see myself.
I have followed BeTechified on WhatsApp since 2025.
A few days ago, I was reading one of their posts about building in public on LinkedIn. I decided to continue the conversation in the comments, and I shared my thoughts.
Then I saw a reply directed at me:
“Abdul Qayum Akindele remove that ‘Aspiring’ from your headline.”
I was confused.
Why?
Because my headline said:
Aspiring Cybersecurity & AI Professional | Content Writer | Self-Directed Learner | Open to Internships & Entry-Level Opportunities
I had never really thought deeply about the word “aspiring.”
To me, it simply meant that I was still learning.
Still growing.
Still trying to become better.
So why remove it?
I Didn't Immediately Understand
Instead of changing my headline immediately, I sat down and thought about it.
Then I did something simple.
I searched my name on Google again.
And there it was.
Google was describing me as an:
“Aspiring cybersecurity and artificial intelligence professional.”
That made me pause.
Because suddenly, I was looking at the word from a completely different perspective.
Was I still only aspiring?
Or had I already started doing the work?
So I went to ChatGPT and asked questions about it.
Then I decided to go directly to the source.
I messaged BeTechified privately and asked for more clarification.
The response made everything clearer:
“We recommend removing ‘aspiring’ because it can make your LinkedIn profile sound like you’re only hoping to become something rather than actively developing the skills.”
And honestly...
That hit differently.
Because I Realized Something
A few months ago, “aspiring” described me perfectly.
I was figuring things out.
I was beginning my cybersecurity journey.
I was learning.
I was exploring.
I was trying to understand where I wanted to go.
But today?
I'm still learning, yes.
But I'm also doing.
I've completed cybersecurity training and earned certifications.
I've completed AI-focused learning.
I'm learning Python.
I'm writing technical content.
I'm creating cybersecurity content.
I'm building my YouTube channel.
I'm building OFF_LIMIT TECH.
I'm documenting what I learn publicly.
I've built a network of more than 1,000 LinkedIn connections and 1,000+ followers.
And most importantly, I'm no longer just thinking about becoming someone in technology.
I'm actively becoming that person.
So I Changed How I Describe Myself
I decided to move away from:
“Aspiring Cybersecurity & AI Professional”
and toward:
Cybersecurity & AI Learner | Technical Content Writer | Cybersecurity Content Creator
I chose “Learner” deliberately.
Because I don't want to pretend that I've reached the destination.
I haven't.
There is still so much I don't know.
There are certifications I haven't earned.
Projects I haven't built.
Skills I haven't mastered.
Experiences I haven't had.
But there's a difference between saying:
“I hope to become this someday.”
and saying:
“I'm already learning, building, creating and working toward becoming this.”
That's the difference I finally understood.
The Lesson I'll Keep
Sometimes, our profiles don't catch up with our growth immediately.
We keep describing ourselves using an old version of who we were.
Maybe that's what happened to me.
My headline was still describing the Abdul Qayum from a few months ago.
But I had changed.
My skills had changed.
My projects had changed.
My confidence had changed.
My direction had changed.
Even the way people were discovering and responding to my work had changed.
I just hadn't changed the words yet.
And it took one simple comment from someone I had been following since 2025 to make me notice.
Thank you, BeTechified.
Not because you gave me a new title.
But because you made me stop and ask myself:
“Who am I now?”
And I think that's a question every person building their career should ask from time to time.
I'm Still Becoming
I don't want this article to sound like I've made it.
I haven't.
I'm still a student of technology.
Still learning cybersecurity.
Still learning AI.
Still learning Python.
Still learning how to write better.
Still learning how to communicate.
Still learning how to build.
But now I understand something I didn't understand a few months ago:
You don't have to wait until you've reached the destination before acknowledging the journey you're already on.
So yes...
I'm still learning.
I'm still building.
I'm still creating.
I'm still becoming.
But I'm no longer just aspiring.
And this little moment?
I'll always cherish it. ❤️
A note to anyone reading this
If you're currently using words like aspiring, don't feel pressured to remove them just because someone else did.
Ask yourself honestly:
Does this word still describe where I am today?
If it does, keep it.
If you've grown beyond it, don't be afraid to update the story you're telling about yourself.
Sometimes, changing one word is a reminder that you've changed too.