diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 4c39f81..5971dd2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ jobs:
         env:
           MYSQL_DATABASE: 'homework_assignment_2024_test'   
           MYSQL_USER: 'rails_user'
-          MYSQL_PASSWORD: 'password'      
-          MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: 'password'
+          MYSQL_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MYSQL_PASSWORD }}     
+          MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD }}
           MYSQL_ROOT_HOST: '%'
           MYSQL_TCP_PORT: 3307
           # MYSQL_HOST: localhost
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v1
       - name: Show databases for root user
-        run: mysql --protocol=tcp -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3307 -u root -ppassword -e "SHOW DATABASES"
+        run: mysql --protocol=tcp -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3307 -u root -p${{ secrets.MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD }} -e "SHOW DATABASES"
       - name: Show databases for rails_user
-        run: mysql --protocol=tcp -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3307 -u rails_user -ppassword -e "SHOW DATABASES"
+        run: mysql --protocol=tcp -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3307 -u rails_user -p${{ secrets.MYSQL_PASSWORD }} -e "SHOW DATABASES"
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v1
         with:
           node-version: 20.x
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ab870dc..c8f0735 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ Your primary task with this homework assignment is to resolve the user stories b
 *Estimated time to completion: 3-4 hours*
 
 ## User Stories
-- [ ] The frontend is not properly fetching data, i.e. filters aren't being sent, requests are being sent too often, non-successful response codes aren't being handled, etc.
-- [ ] The backend is taking too long to return the expected data, i.e.  filters aren't being applied, too much data is being returned, db performance isn't optimized, etc.
-- [ ] The confidence in our current functionality and ability to deploy additional changes is extremely low.  Help us increase our confidence in an automated way.
-- [ ] The confidence in our security posture is also very low.  Help us increase our confidence that we are running a securely designed application.
+- [x] The frontend is not properly fetching data, i.e. filters aren't being sent, requests are being sent too often, non-successful response codes aren't being handled, etc.
+- [x] The backend is taking too long to return the expected data, i.e.  filters aren't being applied, too much data is being returned, db performance isn't optimized, etc.
+- [x] The confidence in our current functionality and ability to deploy additional changes is extremely low.  Help us increase our confidence in an automated way.
+- [x] The confidence in our security posture is also very low.  Help us increase our confidence that we are running a securely designed application.
 
 ## Assumptions