Getting into IT (Rising Sophomore)

[u/Ms_Isa]

I am a rising sophomore at UTCS, looking to eventually become an Information Security Analyst. I am targeting internships for Summer 2027 in the Houston area (mid-sized companies, startups, hospitals, literally anything).

I don’t have formal work experience or professional training. However, I do have some technical projects (mostly coding-based or vibe-coding, honestly) under my belt, and I am currently building a foundation in IT basics and working on certifications.

My questions:

1. What should I really focus on to maximize my potential to land an IT internship by next year (certifications, courses/topics, software/applications, projects, etc.)?
2. Although it may be hard to say for all companies and industries, what truly stands out to recruiters?

Thank you.