From: tunde omotosho (tundeomot@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Sep 28 2007 - 08:16:10 ART
Yemi,
My sincere congrats. You really deserve it only it came later than we expected.You did not pass only the Lab but also the test of faith and courage.I had never seen you discouraged during your last attempts.You really impressed me mate.
Sure you are really going places.
Congrat once again
Omot
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Salau, Yemi
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 6:57 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Made the 19000 Mark! CCIE 18967 @ 24
Sincerely, I don't really know where to start from or who to start thanking
now. The list is just too enormous, but make I start from somewhere ...
To the Almighty, the giver of strength where/when there is no strength, the
giver of life, hope, riches and wealth. The most merciful and graceful ... I
give you all the glory ... for the strength to go through the odds of
becoming CCIE at this young and early stage of my career.
Thought there is nothing new about celebrating being a CCIE at 24, but I
feel happy with myself considering my background and upbringing. My Cisco
journey started in 2002 got CCNA and then started consulting, graduated from
UNI in 2005. It's not been easy, but it's worth it ...
History will not forgive me if I fail to mention few humane personnels,
listing in no particular order ... the best dad in the world (My Dad), the
best mum in the world (My Mum), the best family in the world (My
Family) ... These people have been very supportive through the difficult
moments, very encouraging and thoughtful ... in life, we survive the odd
times partly due to the lovely ones around us.
Now, for the Big Guns ... TFASH/ACHACHIKA - For those rigorous and intensive
conference calls; study partnerships and sleepless nights.
Thanks for always passing the mantle to me; it paid off at the end of the
day. MrT na you get the mantle for Voice now oO! Chika ... yours is the
Security, no excuses oO! I'm stepping aside now!
Mr.T, ofwhich we might have to book our flights together in December for a
"Study-Holiday" with the Brains on their new Voice Class.
Now, for those I can't forget to mention, in no particular order ...
ToluBabs, Ibidapo, Omokungbe, Afinnity, Oginni, Vincent, Kunle, OmoT ...
These guys/chicks are amazing ... they keep calling during those times even
at my very lowest ebb and far away from them ... these guys still call to
know how far and how things are going .... I pray that the Almighty Allah
(before the Christians crucify me, Allah in Hausa literally means God) will
replenish you in all ramifications and only him can bring us all to the very
level he wants us to be.
Nisha (The most technical lady I've ever met in my life) Scott for
responding to my unicasts, even thought some aren't related to CCIE - He
still find out time to send "FREE" Consultations!, Brains Dennis/McGahan for
co-producing (for me) the best CCIE Products in the world... without which
many will still struggle to scale the difficult barrier.
As for CCIE magic number ... mine is #18967 ... people say it's magical, for
me, it's never been the money behind it, it's been the sense of
accomplishment ... heavens know money can't compare with all the stress, the
agony, the tough times, the hard times, the sleepless nights ... for me,
it's a sense of completing what you've started ... and my Dad always tell me
that it takes a man of great character to bring the impossibilities to the
realm of possibilities.
Having failed 3 times in Brussels, Belgium, I decided it wasn't the time to
lay back at all, it wasn't the time to let go of all the stress and money
put in ... I was in Belgium today for the 4th attempt to face the 8hour lab
monster. Ofcourse, not that I feel like a superhero now, but I just want to
send a message across: "The only limitation to your Dreams will be
YOURSELF", believe it or not, it's not money, it's not the good things of
life, those are just "icing-on-the-cakes", it's that sense that "YOU CAN
ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANNA ACHIEVE" and "BE WHAT YOU WANNA BE"
that matters.
As per the Yesterday/Today, I got to Brussels very late, was too dragged
into work related issues in London, visa problems too, so got to pick the
last train from BrusselsMidi to Diegem (23.18 train), Arrived at the Hotel
for 23.50pm and can remember the look on the lady booking me in.
Then got into the room and couldn't even do anyother thing than SLEEP!
Was too tired and very very hungry ... but woke up this morning on the
bright side and have that feeling that today might just be my day!
Got to the Lab in my FaceCap, had a couple of bottles of drink ... and then
ready to face the so called monster for the 4th time! After the lab, still
had that feeling that I might have miss-configured couple of things, but
overall, I left the Lab a very happy man ... I told myself, even if Cisco
decides that I'm too young for CCIE, I will be happy with myself based on
what I did in the Lab. Stefan was great today ... simply amazing, he
confirmed Robben has gone back to the states now.... Anyway, things seemed
to fall into place. I got back to London around 8pm and got to my Hut around
9.15pm, to my greatest surprise I saw the email, went to CCIE page, and
behold the PASS!
I'm really short of words, don't know what to say again, but let me conclude
with this ... in life, always remember that "TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, ONLY
TOUGH PEOPLE DO!"
1 CCIE DOWN, 4 TO GO!
THE NEXT ON THE TRAIN .... VOICE&SECURITY!!!!
CCIE#18967
A Little Higher Than Angels!
Many Thanks
Yemi Salau
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