Ah, what a week!!!

As you know, these past 10-11 weeks, I've been studying for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. It was really hard, and I was starting to get really exhausted. Working at Cisco, being a Resident Assistant, working three nights a week as Desk Attendant, and studying 1400 pages for certification was very, very difficult. However, as with everything in life, the amount of efforts you put into something will bring the results proportional to your hard work. Therefore, this Friday, I took the CCNA test, and … I PASSED!!!

It was a really difficult test. The test itself lasts for 90 minutes and is consisted of 52 questions (at least mine was), out of which 5 or 6 are simulations where you have to virtually create a computer network using different types of networking devices as well as to configure each and every one of them in order for the network to start working. Other questions are mostly multiple choice, but not with a single answer, but with several possible answers, and if you miss one of these, entire question is marked as wrong. Therefore, you need to know your stuff.

I started a test at 4:00pm, doing one question at the time. In first 20 questions I had 4 simulations and I got stuck at the 4th one. I configured everything, but it wasn't working. I don't know how much time I spent on that one, but when I checked the clock, I had only half an hour left, and I was on question 19 out of 52. I cannot describe the panic in me and the thought that I might not make it and might fail. From that point, I was reading through questions as fast as I could, and I was answering them without having the time to rethink. It was very, very stressful. I managed to go through them all and I pressed the FINISH button four minutes before my time elapsed. The printer behind me started printing my results. It was the longest printing in my life. I took the paper, and being very nervous, I couldn't find where the PASS/FAIL section was. I was looking at that sheet, and I couldn't see it. Finally, there it was, in font size 8 - Grade: PASS. I was so happy I started jumping around the room (I was alone, of course). This meant not only that I passed, and got the positive result for 11 weeks of sacrificing my social life and free time, but that I would have four weeks to relax during my free time between coop and RA/DA job and get ready for the Summer semester.

On the other side, while doing my SRA job in the area that was without Resident Director for almost three months, I managed to maintain things under control, keep my staff well organized, and with their help keep the area functioning. As for everything I did at Wentworth, I got rewarded for my dedication and hard work this time, too. I received the Outstanding Junior Leadership Award. The Outstanding Junior Leadership Award is presented to a junior who has consistently been involved with an organization/club/leadership role at Wentworth. The student needs to regularly demonstrate enthusiasm toward and passion for their role on campus. This student also needs to serve as a strong role model for their classmates and display potential for success in future leadership roles.

As you can see, this week was very successful for me and I treated myself with a night out with my friends on Friday, a relaxing Saturday, and a visit to the Museum of Science today.

We'll see what the upcoming weeks will bring to me, and to this blog, too. Till that time, ENJOY THE LIFE.