Hardcore Masochist

The term was from my CCNA 3 instructor referring to us who opt to use the command line interface (CLI) of the router/switch rather than the easier graphical user interface (GIU). It’s like using DOS rather than Windows :-) He was actually just trying to humor us. Using CLI is not really that hard, for as long as you know what commands to use and there are help tools available.

I am enjoying tremendously my CCNA classes. It is actually training in preparation for the CCNA certification. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is one of the vendor certifications that would assure employers that the holders are capable of handling the vendor’s products. In this case, Cisco is the vendor and their products are routers and switches used in computer networking. There are other vendors offering certifications like Microsoft.

Well, aside from the new concepts in computer networking that I encounter each Sunday, I just like the feeling of going to class and learning. I really regret that I haven’t done this sooner. For five years, my mind just became stagnant. But I didn’t know then that a career in networking was suitable for a girl like me. I thought it was very unladylike. I couldn’t imagine myself laying out cables. I didn’t know that there are plenty of sub fields in networking that I could fit into like network administration or network design. Laying out cables is just one responsibility of one subfield called Structured Cabling. I was really so clueless.

Nowadays, it is a common practice for ECE students to take Cisco classes simultaneously with their Bachelor’s degree. By the time they graduate, they can take certification exams and at the same time, take the board exams. Some are even taking MS units in conjunction with their BS study. Nakakalula ang mga estudyante ngayon. But maybe this is because of the strong competition of the employment sector. Paramihan nalang ng qualifications kumbaga.

Anyway, I have always been interested in data communications. I just didn’t realize before how to specialize in this field. Why am I so interested in data communications? It’s because it is in the frontier of technology. And I have always been fascinated with the latest in technology. That’s the reason why I took up ECE – to be a part of whatever is in the latest of technology.

But no matter how much interest I have in the subject, for the past three weeks, I found myself cramming every Saturday to prepare for the chapter exam the following day. I got so many things to do at work that I couldn’t find the time to study during weekdays and nights. Actually, I can insert it every week nights if I want, but I am just so lazy. Up to this time, I still couldn’t practice and perfect the good study habit. Even in school, I didn’t have it. If I had just that study habit, I could have fared better in school.

Anyway, I have to force myself to get that habit. The 82% I got from yesterday’s exam made me realize I have to fix my schedule and focus on things really important. Panira sa grade book ang line of eight na grade. Aside from it beng an eyesore, I wanted to get a discount voucher for the certification exam. (Opo, may bayad ang exam. Ano pa ba ang libre ngayon?) To get that, I have to maintain grades above 90.

O, sya, aral na muna akow. :-)