Hello all!
I'm back from the dead.
As some of you remember, I started my OSCP journey about 3 months ago (OCT). I am incredibly happy to report that I passed last week.
It was an awesome journey, and I learned so much. I also met some really awesome people along the way. I truly think that's one of the biggest wins for this course. You will almost certainly have to look for help. Maybe its a blog, or IRC, or reading threads, or emailing someone you met. You will meet people and learn so much from them.
There are so many write ups and reviews that I wont dive into that too much.
BUT, I wanted to address something that I think is very important.
I have several friends that have expressed great interest in OSCP. I've also gotten twitter comments, I've read threads on here, and even gotten emails from others...
It seems like many many people are flat out intimated by the OSCP.
I'm here to say, don't be scared! Don't be intimated! This is an experience best lived through when you just jump right in! -- Yes, its very true that you need to have a level of technical understanding as you start the course. But, never forget that the whole point of the PWK course and Lab is to teach you and prepare you to actually pass the OSCP! -- yes, its also true that's its hard. At times it felt impossible -- but it makes victory all that much sweeter.
Also, something very important to keep in mind:
FAILURE IS AN OPTION! -
In fact, failure is the driving force for success in this course. You try something, fail, adjust, try again, fail, adjust, then eventually you win. Then you win again. Then you win again, and all of a sudden, one night you're in the lab and you have the thought: "Wow, I actually sort of know what I'm doing right now ..."
As to the exam: I did not pass my first time. I came so close, but not close enough. Trust me when I say, MANY MANY MANY people take OSCP more than once. IF you end up being one of those people, DONT. EVEN. SWEAT. IT! Failure is an option here. All it proves is that this exam is hard, which is something you already knew. I talked with a few people that got pretty down on themselves for not passing the first, or second, or even third time. -- It's a journey!!
In closing, I will say this: The more I learned during this process, the less I realized I actually knew. This is just the beginning for me!
