From: donny.mateo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue May 28 2002 - 22:25:08 GMT-3
Gratz ...
"CCIE-Maillist" <CCIE-Maillist@foxgal.com>@groupstudy.com on 28-05-2002 23:44:1
9
Please respond to "CCIE-Maillist" <CCIE-Maillist@foxgal.com>
Sent by: nobody@groupstudy.com
To: <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
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Subject: CCIE# 9369
I passed the CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Saturday, May 25, in RTP, NC, making
me CCIE# 9369.
This was my third try and it has been a longer than anticipated journey. Longer
than expected as I thought that obtaining a CCIE would be like obtaining my
MCSE+I or other certifications. I was very wrong. I had never heard of the CCIE
prior to May 2000 when I ran across an old friend while investigating Cisco
products who worked for Cisco and was a CCIE. I thought, "hmm, I should get thi
s
CCIE thing too". I was slightly surprised when he told me that it took him twic
e
to pass and it was extremely difficult. I thought that was strange considering
he worked at Cisco and had been working as a SE for them, and other companies,
for a number of years. I thought "how hard could it be?" and was again wrong in
my deductions.
I had been working with 3Com LAN/WAN products for about 6 years prior to
obtaining my CCNA in 6/2000. I obtained my CCNP & CCDA in Jan 2001. I passed th
e
written in 4/2001 and sat for my first attempt in 8/2001 at the Sao Paolo,
Brazil lab (as there was such a long wait). The first attempt showed me that I
didn't comprehend the magnitude or complexity of the exam, at all. However, it
was a good learning experience as then, with the two-day, the proctor sat down
with me and went over the items that I had done incorrectly during the first
day. Then, I found out that the lab changed to the one day version in October,
2001.
After that, I did many practice labs and read a great deal. In Jan 2002, I made
my second attempt in RTP. I left feeling quite confident that I had passed. I
was disappointed again to find that I had not and my percentages weren't even
worth asking for a re-grading of the test. That was yet another wake-up call
that this exam is more difficult than any other test I had ever tried. The bar
was much higher than I thought.
Over the next 3-4 months I did more labs and studying and attempted the lab las
t
Saturday, May 25. I felt that I needed more time but there is no option for a
last-minute reschedule. I went and saw Star Wars the night before with my
family. After sharing a bad breakfast at the Waffle House with my wife, I
arrived at the test site. There was myself and seven other there. From listenin
g
to the others talk, I believe everyone there was "returning" except for one. Th
e
lab was brutal but fair and doable. My strategy was to take my time reading the
entire lab, make notes on the tasks as to how I was going to do them and how
many points they were worth. I also drew a diagram that I used during the lab.
I
had to ask Jeff, the proctor for more paper in the first 30 minutes. He said
"already, you need more paper?". Jeff was very helpful throughout the exam
(thanks Jeff!). He answered what he could and was polite when he couldn't. In
the last 45 minutes of the lab I had too many tasks le!
ft and not as much time as I had wanted. I was in a panic as had a technical
issue that was out of my control. The proctor told me that the issue didn't
affect whether I could complete the lab, to pretend I did not have this issue,
and continue the test. This made me feel uneasy. Also, I didn't get to run my
"fantastic ping script" as I had wanted, causing more uneasiness.
As it was Memorial Day weekend, I had to wait Sunday and Monday without any
grade. Over that time my head spun with thoughts of "did I forget this, or
that?" and calculating the points that I probably missed and would they cause m
e
to fail... I know I drove my wife crazy with sudden outbursts of "Oh my gosh, I
think I forgot to configure the XYZ on the fladoodle, great! Now I'm surely
doomed!" I didn't get my report until Tuesday morning. I was amazing to see tha
t
I had passed. Absolutely amazing...
I read all the same books and did most of the same labs that others have done.
I
think everyone is familiar with that list. If not, it is in the archives.
First, I'd like to thank my wife and daughter for the patience and support they
provided while I spent long hours and in the spare bedroom with the door shut.
Hopefully I can find some way to repay them for all the things they took care o
f
for me and for all the times I had to tell them "no, sorry, I can't go as I hav
e
to stay here and study". Also, I'd like to thank my family for all their moral
support. I'd like to thank my boss for supporting me with dollars and time to
pursue this venture and my work associates for taking care of things for me.
Thanks to my study partner, David, for his support. Finally, thanks to Paul for
running this list and thanks to all the people on the list who took the time to
answer my questions- you are what make this list possible.
One of the messages that I read on this list that was especially helpful advice
was from Gonzalo #8726 (in the archives) who said that the trick to passing is
precision on the test, focusing only on the lab, enjoying the test, knowing
everything, making a commitment, and seeing a movie the night before. Scott
#9340 pointed out that the CCIE lab is a marathon, not a sprint, and should be
considered as such. I tried to always keep these things in mind and the advice
seems to have paid off.
Best of luck to all who are in the pursuit of the CCIE- don't give up, it can b
e
done!
David Davis
CCIE #9369
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