Hey, my name is Brianna Andrea Mendiola. I am currently in the final semester of my graduate studies in Cyber and Information Security at St. John’s University. This semester we were told we would be collaborating with students from different countries. At first I was very nervous about what that would entail. I was worried about the struggles with different time zones and possible language barriers. Thankfully, we were paired with a great group. I feel that we set things in motion early on. We made a plan and communicated efficiently. We made sure to communicate via Discord if we had any questions or concerns. Utilizing google drive and discord was what really helped our team succeed. All in all, I think our team worked very well together.

Coming from a background in classical studies, namely, Latin and Greek, and Adolescent Education, I bring strong analytical and communication skills that meet the demands of cybersecurity. This interdisciplinary perspective shapes my ability to approach and collaborate with others on complex problems.
This foundation enabled me to bring curiosity, structure, and coordination to our Virtual Exchange Collaboration on the PIX project. Working with any group brings its own set of challenges, let alone an international, cross-disciplinary one with different native languages and timezones. Some of us are graduate students, others undergraduate, each with a different focus in the field of cybersecurity or background altogether. There is something refreshing about those differences that can strengthen a group; in fact, it was comforting to know that everyone brought a unique set of skills and perspectives to the project, for diverse teams foster creativity and break up the monotony of thought. 
Such diversity lends to more opportunities for members to play into their strengths. Someone studying code might offer a better understanding of coding vulnerabilities, whereas someone trained in risk assessment could help structure a report and align vulnerabilities with standards. While some might be more reserved but specialize in a specific task, others excel at rallying members and coordinating action. Ultimately, a project like this invites genuine ownership, where each person can add their own personal touch and step into a role that reflects their strengths and perspectives. 
The biggest challenge of this experience, of course, was working across time zones and languages, which required us to be intentional about scheduling and communication. We learned to plan ahead and send out regular reminders about tasks and deadlines. This structure kept everyone on pace despite the distance and helped maintain consistent progress throughout the project. Likewise, the international nature of the project pushed us to compare Brazil’s Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD) with the U.S. NIST SP 800-53 control framework. 
Overall, the research for this project brought me out of my comfort zone, in the best way, by requiring me to consider new legal contexts and technical issues, consult resources in foreign languages, and adapting my skill set to a multilingual and cross-disciplinary project. I came away not only a stronger communicator, but also with a clearer understanding of the relevancy of security and control frameworks across borders.

When I first heard about this assignment, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. I was really looking forward to collaborating with people from different countries, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure what to expect or how everything would go.
From our first meeting, I could tell this was going to be a great experience. We introduced ourselves, shared our ideas, and started organizing how to complete the tasks. Communicating in English was definitely a challenge for me since it’s my second language, but I saw it as the perfect chance to practice and improve. Everyone was patient and supportive, which made the process much easier and enjoyable.
Working with students from different backgrounds taught me so much. We had to deal with time zone differences and busy schedules, but we learned to adapt and make it work. I really enjoyed hearing different perspectives and learning how each person approached the problems in their own way.
Overall, this collaboration was an amazing experience. I learned the value of teamwork, communication, and flexibility when working with people from around the world. Most importantly, I gained more confidence using my second language and discovered how much we can achieve when we combine our ideas and efforts across cultures.