From: kevin gannon (kevin@gannons.net)
Date: Fri Apr 21 2006 - 10:01:37 GMT-3
Well done !
Regards
Kevin
#15386
On 4/21/06, Larry Roberts <groupstudy@american-hero.com> wrote:
>
> Well, finally I get my chance to write this e-mail. On the 19th of April
> I officially became CCIE 16084. (Security)
>
> Its been a long road for me and I have paid the light bills more that
> once or twice for Cisco.
>
> First time was 4 or so years ago. I wasn't ready, but I didn't have a
> clue how to study for the lab. At this point I had never even heard of
> groupstudy and I don't think anyone even offered a workbook at this
> point. I failed, but it was semi-respectable.
>
> Fast forward another year and its time again. This time I think that I'm
> prepared. and I go in and give it a good shot. Turns out I wasn't. I had
> a couple questions that I didn't understand what they were wanting.
>
> Fast forward another year. I know I'm ready at this point. I have
> subscribed to groupstudy and really started digging into the material.
> I take the lab and I'm sure I nailed it. I get my results and its my
> poorest showing yet. I finished early, reviewed my work and still
> failed. At this point its no longer material thats getting me, but
> rather the questions.
>
> Fast forward 2 months. My written is about to expire and I need to get
> this thing done. The format has changed and now the lab is
> pre-configured. R&S points were gimme points so now I'm a little
> nervous. I go in and nail the lab. I'm convinced I pass. I almost
> celebrate. Then I get the result...Fail. In my lab the IDS sensor
> wouldn't save the config. I get my results back and I get 0 for the IDS
> stuff. If I calculated correctly I was within 3-4 points of passing and
> the IDS stuff killed me. I was smart enough to ask the proctors to grade
> me IDS stuff before they do any work on it, so either they didn't or I
> missed something. Who knows.
>
> Fast forward 1 year and 3 months to April 19th 2006. I have been working
> at Cisco since last August. Its baptism by fire! When I started working
> at Cisco I decided then and there that this certification was mine. What
> I needed was a new approach. My last two attempts I had failed not
> because of a lack of knowledge, but because I didn't get what they were
> asking for or I didn't give them *EXACTLY* what they asked. I finally
> broke down and purchased a workbook and decided to get some training.
> With my IPExpert workbook in hand I sat down and started going over each
> section. At the end I would look and compare my answers to what they
> had. Each line was analysed to see why they used the commands they did.
>
> For me, the workbook made the difference. Yes there were errors, but
> being able to find those and even better, be able to tell you WHY they
> were wrong is what told me that I was ready. I know that Wayne is
> updating the material now and that those books will be even better.
> They really do make the difference...
>
> What I'm trying to say is DONT EVER GIVE UP. It took me 5 times to get
> it, but nowhere on my number does it mention how many times I took it to
> pass, only that I passed! Its also more than knowing the material. You
> need to read the question and analyse every word. When I was going back
> over the test to review I found words that would alter something I did.
> If I hadn't done that I wouldn't have passed. And finally BUG THE CRAP
> out of the proctor. Its what he is there for.
> I seeked clarification or definition at least 15 times. I wasn't going
> to fail because I didn't understand what they were asking for.
>
> Last but not least I want to thank my loving wife and my now 7 month old
> daughter for showing the patience to let me get this out of my system. I
> promise to no longer be "the man that lives in the basement".
>
> Larry Roberts CCIE 16084
>
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