From: Gary Duncanson (gary.duncanson@googlemail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 03 2008 - 06:05:57 ARST
I shouldn't worry. If you are good enough you are old enough. Sounds like a
hell of a lot of work in three years if you ask me.
Well done!
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gobind" <gobind@inbox.com>
To: "Cisco certification" <ccielab@groupstudy.com>; "Narbik Kocharians"
<narbikk@gmail.com>; "christian" <christian@subfighter.ca>; "Darby Weaver"
<darbyweaver@yahoo.com>; "Scott Morris" <swm@emanon.com>; "Scott Morris"
<smorris@ipexpert.com>
Cc: "Brian McGahan" <bmcgahan@internetworkexpert.com>;
<bdennis@internetworkexpert.com>; <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 11:28 PM
Subject: *Huge Post*..Passed! 20 yr old CCIE # 19910
> Hey Guys!
>
> At last with the blessing of GOD, I manged to pass CCIE exam at
> brussels.This was my third attempt.Yea,I am 20 but I am not boasting but
> rather feeling proud for this accomplishment in the conditions I been
> through while preparing.Its been a long journey.I want to say Thanks to
> Brians,Darby for this tips and Scott,Narbik for their endless help rather
> it be direct or indirect as most of the help and information I got to my
> problems was by searching the old archives and most of the archives were
> from Scott and Narbik :).Also want to say thanks to Alexie for his posts
> in Netmasclass,the thing in which I was getting which was
> redistribution,he pulled out a topic from Group Study posted by Bruce
> from Netmasterclass way back,it was huge post on Redistribution which
> really opened my mind in that particular area.I can post that link later
> if someone is interested.Also want to say thanks to Eric and Bruno,the
> proctors of Brussels which really helped me(Cheers! if you are reading
> this post :) and to Manoj for talking with me on phone for helping me
> out in my problems and giving me tips for the Lab.
>
> This is a Huge post.I just want to tell everyone that never ever give
> up!!.Always remember:-
>
> "Winners never Quit & Quitters never win!!"
>
> I struggled a lot during my journey to CCIE.It took me 3 years! I started
> studying for CCIE back in 2004 after passing my CCNP when I was just
> 17.My career started when I was studying in 9th grade and was working as
> part time in my areas's local ISP company.I use to do installations of
> Modems,cables for New customers.My interest started to grow after I saw
> Network Engineer f our company configuring RIP on Router.My ambition
> started to grow,I wanted to be like him,sitting on chair and configuring
> Network Equiptments remotely.Then I asked him how to learn those kind of
> things and then he recommended me Wendel Odom's CCNA book,that's when my
> career in Cisco started.I managed to pass CCNA and started helping that
> same Engineer in his work of configuring routeres and learn new things
> from him.Later on I managed to pass CCNP.
>
> My hunger for Networking started to grow,that's when I joined a big
> company out of the state where I was living,which really helped me in
> studying.I worked there and meanwhile started studying for CCIE in
> 2004.But at that time was also most worst part because when people use to
> lookup at me in India(thats where I worked and grew up) they use to mock
> me "17 year old kid doing CCIE?!!! HAHAHA",They use to mock me on my back
> which also worked as spilling petrol in fire for me in my studies due to
> which my determination grew and I wanted to show them that I can do
> it.But at that time I was not upto the mark for CCIE.I took traning in
> Bangalore,it was 2005 mid by then.Then I got know about IE's Brian and I
> saw their sample labs and then I realized that there was so much out
> there to learn.But I didnt had that much finance to pay Brian or for my
> training.So I made up my mind to work hard and collect money.After doing
> 9 to 5 job,I use to Design Websites and do Web hosting for many
> customers.
>
> That business really boosted my income and till the ended of 2005 and
> with some financial help from my parents I planned to buy my rack and
> then I posted at GS in Dec 2005 I believe for getting help for setting up
> Rack,Then brian McGahan came forward to help me and I bought full Rack of
> routers and CCIE End to End from Brians on which they gave me discount
> after due to my financial condition.I am really grateful for them.I
> started learn technologies more deeply by studying Brian's COD and their
> workbook and meanwhile studying CCIE Practical studies Vol 1 & 2(I
> already completed TCP/IP Vol I & II by this time).
>
> But finance was always problem for me,so I had to work meanwhile for
> collecting money for CCIE Lab exam.But 2006 wasnt really good year for
> me.Due to some personal problems at home I had to sell my rack.My CCIE
> written exam was going to be expired.So I gave my written exam again and
> then I needed to practise on Rack.But the Rack rentals price for 20-30
> days and training of Bangalore for CCIE turned out to be same,HAHA,So I
> thought I should rather go to banglore,this way I got rack access for 1
> month physical access (My employer really helped me and gave me leave).
>
> But then after reading that how people fails in GS,I was really shocked
> and I made up my mind to take Bootcamp.My friend Manoj whom I met in GS
> recommended me to go Cyscoexpert where Naren Mehta who is Co-Author of
> Book "CCIE Routing and Switching Official Exam Certification Guide" and
> bahram were giving one to one training in US.So I decided to go there,so
> I started collecting money and did various projects meanwhile and did
> programming/designing for website,also hosted Live broadcsting events.At
> last I was ready to go.
>
> But before going I did Rack rentals from Chris from CiscoLabs,he gave me
> Rack in damn cheap price.I am thankful to him.I took my training in US
> from CyscoExpert.That training was just awesome! It really helped me and
> I thought I was ready for exam and I would pass it.I appeared for my lab
> on 15th may 2007 at RTP,This was my first attempt and I failed.I was
> really shocked that what happened as when i came out of the lab I thought
> Iwas passed.It really shook me.I did't knew what to do.I posted my
> experience in Lab during then.When i returned back to India,I met those
> guys again mocking at me even 2 years after saying that I cant pass the
> labs.So I felt so guilty and thought I couldnt pass it and they were
> right.But my parents supported and girl friend supported me and told me
> to give it another try.After 1 week time my I decided that I wont give up
> and booked my lab date on 5th July,2007 in Dubai and guess what I failed
> again which almost made me thing that CCIE is not meant for me and I dint
> even had the courage to post in GS or appear in GS again.I was really
> broken in pieces and started to think that those guys were 100% right
> that CCIE is unattainable for Kid/Teenager like me and I dont deserve
> that.
>
> But after 2 months I really thought that what am I doing?! Even after
> doing so much I am quiting?! So finally I decided to give one more
> attempt again and see my luck.I decided to take Narbik's bootcamp under
> his special offer but due to some personal problems I was not able to
> attend it.I decided to do Netmasterclass,Also Chris from CiscoLabs and my
> old friend Manoj gave me advise to do it.So I bought Netmaster DoIT and
> rented Rack from Chirs and started practicing and whole December I
> practised DoIT,especially on Weekends and during Christmas/New Year
> Holidays.
>
> By this time my lab was booked on January 29th at Brussels.I went to IE's
> COD again.Read the redistribution part which really sometimes put me in
> trouble from Forum's of DiscussIT of Netmasterclass by Bruce posted by
> Alexie,Thanks again for that!! And not to forget my favorite post from
> Darby in GS with Subject "Lab Approach - Getting Ready for the 3rd Shot
> at the Title" which really helped me in my 3rd shot ;).Thanks Darby for
> that.I got problem in many things but it was mostly previously discussed
> in GS before and was mostly answered by Scott and Narbik,Thanks Narbik
> and Scott!!!
>
> I also remember the topic "Attack by proctor" from GS which said the
> Proctors esp. in Brussels do attack in rack,many CCIE candidates came
> forward and said it.I was also prepared for that even i thought it was
> stupid thing,thinking that maybe sometime in middle of m lab I would get
> problem,hehe
>
> So the Final day,when i entered the lab I was totally freeked out.I
> calmed myself and started my lab and I finished my lab in 5.5 hours which
> was really good sign for me,then i verified the solutions from first
> question from Question one to last and then came out of the Lab.I left
> for the airport from hotel at 5pm.
>
> Now the **Golden Moment**.My Girl Friend called me just after 1 hr 45
> mins,after my lab,exactly at 6:15 pm(as she was checking my result) and
> here what she said "Sweetheart, 19910.." and she stopped.I understood
> that were my digits and I was like NO WAY!,Tears came into my eyes with
> happiness.I couldnt believe I passed!! Then i called my parents and gave
> them the news.That was the most preciuos moment of my life.I thanked GOD
> which blessed me.
>
> As per my expeience in Lab there is nothing known as attack by proctor in
> MIDDLE of LAB.And yea Bruno & Eric are not my friends and they neither
> gave me Belgian Beer to say this,hehe.
>
> The people which really helped me from Day 1 when I started preparing for
> CCIE are Brians which helped me technically and also financially when I
> needed help by giving me huge discounts in my bad times. GOD Bless you.
> guys!
>
> Maybe I bored you guys with my story.But I just want to tell you that no
> matter how hard the time can be if you want to attain something then go
> for it,no matter "Whatever it takes".Even in my case I was being mocked
> due to my age or even I failed 3 attempts even my financial condition was
> not good as I was not earning in $ but in India Ruppee which really makes
> difference,believe me.My pay from past 3 years and money which came from
> my business of Web Designing/Programming and Broadcasting over IP,all
> went into this studies.Yea I was stupid enough for this because I just
> had this one aim in front of me.I took two tranings in bangalore,Rented
> more than 600 hours of Racktime from different vendors,mainly from
> Chris,Bootcamp in US,three attempts,End to End from Brians's CCIE and
> DoIT from Netmasterclass.I know it looks insane but I was crazy enough to
> put my 100% efforts as well as finance in this exam as it was my goal and
> also shut the f**k up of those guys who mocked at me due to my age.They
> use to say that that they had 12 years of experience(they were CCIE
> themself) which was nearly equivant ot my age(I was 17 at that time).I
> respect that they had so much experience and had CCIE but they did not
> had any right to mock at me.
>
> But I have attained what I dreamt for even it took longer than I expected
> but I attained it.
>
> My Next Dream .... "CCIE Service Provider"..hehe.. Now I have to dig the
> way of studiying for this cerfication.I am going to start studying for it
> in few days time.Any advice or guidance would be helpful :).
>
> Thanks again to Alexie,Bahram,Brians,Bruce,Chris,Manoj(Thanks for taking
> out time for solving my problems),Naren,Narbik & Scott for their help and
> support in whichever way I got from them :)
>
> --Gobind Singh Gill
> CCIE # 19910
> (Proudly Writing :) )
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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