From: Scott Morris (smorris@ipexpert.com)
Date: Fri Feb 08 2008 - 06:04:28 ARST
Congratulations!!! Sorry to hear about your loss, but very well done on
coming back to the exam!
Scott Morris, CCIE4 (R&S/ISP-Dial/Security/Service Provider) #4713, JNCIE-M
#153, JNCIS-ER, CISSP, et al.
CCSI/JNCI-M/JNCI-ER
VP - Technical Training - IPexpert, Inc.
IPexpert Sr. Technical Instructor
A Cisco Learning Partner - We Accept Learning Credits!
Telephone: +1.810.326.1444
Fax: +1.810.454.0130
http://www.ipexpert.com
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Sadiq Yakasai
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:11 PM
To: Cisco certification
Subject: CCIE #19963
Hey guys,
I cant believe its my turn to write this email now. Amazing what comes your
way when you are truly determined and would not let failing be a failure, as
they say.
So I have managed to get digitized yesterday at Brussels, after my second
attempt at the lab exam. Its been a rough ride! Juggling work and studying
for the lab exam isnt the most esiest of things to do.
I started studying for the lab exam in January 2007, just after finishing
written test and commencing with a new job back then. Pay was good, but it
wasnt directly with cisco line of products, which kinda made it boring for
me cos of what I had set out to get. I gave up the job and took up a
contract for 11 months, but this time working on IOS day in day out! Pay was
less, the country was more expensive to live in, spent alot of money moving
across the continent (needless to mention the hunnies are not as sweet,
hehe), but hey, I had a target.
Along the line when the going got tough, many times I questioned myself
about this decision that I had to make. But i sticked with the plan!
Got me InternetworkExpert materials and got on with the plan. Watched the
CoD many many times each. At least 2 times before practice, and one more
time after practing to make sure I completely understood what they
mentioned. Most times, I would pick up new tricks and information everytime
i re-watched the videos. I did this for at least 4 months and decided it was
time to get on to the main labs. Did all the labs and at least 15 more for
the second time.
I scheduled the Assesor Lab exam and got a 65% on it. Wasnt the most
impressive performance, but it introduced me to a different wording style of
the exam which I found to be truly educating.
I went into the exam the first time in Brussels, with alot of uncertainties
of what to expect and the level of the difficulty of the exam. I knew the
technologies but was tripped off something really trivial as I look back at
it right now. I wasted soo much time which affected my composure and
eventually, i messed up much more that I shouldnt have. I got zero on my BGP
section the first time cos of a misconfigured AS number (and the config for
the part was completely correct). - not a good thing. I came out with 65%
overall.
Dissapointed by this, but I felt i was close for a first attempt and I knew
I was almost there.
I came back to the drawing board as many people in here suggest. For my next
attempt, I knew it would be more strategic than the first one.
I concentrated more on the weak areas and theories more than I did on
building the most complex labs and doing the most complex redistribution,
etc, which would typically take me hours to think through and do. Mcast,
Catalyst QOS and IP services were now my areas of concentration.
Just 2 weeks before my second attempt on the 19th of OCT 2007, I tragically
lost my sister. I was shattered into pieces by this event.
Had to travel home to stay with family during this period and had to cancel
my lab attempt.
After a complete month of being away from anything technical, I returned to
the battle field. My boss at work had got in contact with the guys at NMC
and got a few mock labs to do with them. I found this to be a truly
enriching experience. I did 3 labs in total and they gave me the slap i
needed to fully wake up and face the beast again.
I went back to Brussels on the 6th of Feb. Knowing my abilities, I have
never a believer of reading the whole exam before starting, and I didnt on
the day because I think there is too much information to take in by doing
so. I like to read a section and do that section, verify and move on to the
next. However, I came across an issue which i asked the proctor on and he
adviced me to read the entire exam to get the clue to the answer which I did
got an answer to my question. I knew right from the exam hall that I had
done it this time. But if I had not, then I probably would never be able to
cos I thot I had done all that I could do and believed I did the right
thing. I clarified with the proctors on every little point I needed
clarification. NO ASSUMPTIONS WHAT SO EVER!!.
I would like to thank all the gurus out here for your time and effort.
The Brians, Scott, Narbik, Tarun, Jason Guy, Hashiru Aminu (especially for
introducing me to the group), and all the rest of the gurus out here for
your support and time.
I would like to thank all the newbies as well for the fundamental questions.
Most times you realise its good to go back to basics when you spend too much
time solving the most complex of issues. It always helped. I had a prof that
always said, its better to ask the most stupid question outside the exam
than be caught up inside the exam for not asking. So ASK when is doubt!
There will always be someone to answer your question
Know the DoC CD inside out!
Thanks
Sadiq Yakasai
CCIE # 19963
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Mar 01 2008 - 16:54:47 ARST