My CCNP Journey

Danielh22185

As the title states, I passed TSHOOT Friday afternoon (915/1000) and FINALLY completed my CCNP! My ancient, long thread comes to a close!

What a relief!

So I said I would give a write up to summarize my experience so here we go...


I began my CCNP Journey roughly 4 years ago with the intent on passing it quickly and also thinking I had the knowledge and skillset to do it in a short time. As a recap at that time I had just obtained my CCNA in March of 2012, so was looking for the next challenge. Also, I had just started my first ever network job. I was eager to learn and grow.

So at near the end of that year I gave a test a crack (beginning with Route), boy I was in for a big surprise. I really did not know the content at all. I thought I could approach CCNP the same way I did with NA which was read a book or two, do some basic labbing and be ready...I was so wrong. Needless to say I spent some time re-thinking my approach and focused on really taking in the content and learning it.

To keep a long story short... over the next couple years I had some life events occur and my studies slowed down (if not came to a screeching halt at times). I got discouraged plenty of times, but ultimately this process was such a huge life lesson for me. I learned more about myself than I ever thought I would, I wasn't even expecting a life lesson. Four years later and through my focus of learning and growing I was also able to make 2 career moves (possibly a 3rd one here soon) within a company doing network support, ultimately advancing my skills and knowledge further with each move.

Like my thread states, this was my Journey. Sure getting the piece of paper stating I am officially certified is great and it is what I ultimately sought out to do, but the journey is really the value in the certification process. It's not just about learning technical stuff but also learning about yourself and setting goals, then achieving those goals.



Tips for someone just starting their Journey:
============================
1.) Invest in yourself -- don't approach CCNP as just the next cert to get, make an investment in yourself to learn and grow along the way.

2.) Discover how you learn and apply strategies (and new strategies) to increase your success (this was a big one for me, I really had to do some serious self-evaluation).

3.) Don't let discouragement faulty your focus. You are going to have you ups/downs, you are going to struggle to understand certain topics, but don't let that drive you. Focus on finding new ways to learn or approach it differently.

4.) Read outside materials not directly covered from Cisco Press. (This I found out later in my studies was where I was coming up short in my understandings of some things, but later found as very valuable when I took in these resources). So many times I see threads asking what books are best to study. There is no best answer but don't just stick to the OCGs or FLGs, expand your resources to learn from. This also includes video training, etc.

5.) Test order doesn't matter but if I had to do it over again I think I would do Switch, Route, then TSHOOT. I feel like Switch drew on many more NA level topics I could relate to. Route definitely introduces many new topics coming from an NA level of understanding that is valuable to have as fresh as possible going into TSHOOT.

6.) Be curious and investigate! Don't just highlight or try to commit to memory. Learn it! Grow!

7.) LAB LAB LAB!! Always Be labbing! #ABL!

8.) Have fun! At the end of the day I would always enjoy myself buried in a book or labbing. If it's fun it won't feel like work and be ever so more rewarding.



So what's next?
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I plan on taking a bit of a mental break (meaning not having to stress about a test date), for the rest of the year. I have a 2nd child to be born next month so getting dedicated study time will be scarce. However the next goal is CCIE. I have already purchased several books and have the entire compliment of INE's video library for the v5 test, as well as their workbooks. I will slowly ramp up for IE until I get to a point where I will be all-in beast study mode.


Look for my IE Journey thread in the IE forums in the future months to come and thank you everyone for your support during my journey!

joetest

Congrats!

kmos22

I must say I have been inspired by your dedication in reaching your CCNP goal. I have been a follower but never an officially registered user of this forum and kept up to date with your thread. I am studying for CCNP switch right now and I really look forward to following your step onward to the CCIE. Congrats and best wishes.

Danielh22185

kmos22 wrote: »

I must say I have been inspired by your dedication in reaching your CCNP goal. I have been a follower but never an officially registered user of this forum and kept up to date with your thread. I am studying for CCNP switch right now and I really look forward to following your step onward to the CCIE. Congrats and best wishes.

Thanks! It was a long process, longer than I ever wanted it to carry on, that was mostly my fault with staying motivated and dedicated.

Good luck with your future studies as well!

NetworkNewb

Congrats Daniel!

carterw65

Good Job!

--chris--

Congrats and thanks for the suggestions on studying!

fredrikjj

It's very impressive to me that you finally finished despite failing some exams and it taking so long. Most people would have just quit. Congratulations!

Danielh22185

fredrikjj wrote: »

It's very impressive to me that you finally finished despite failing some exams and it taking so long. Most people would have just quit. Congratulations!

LOL! Thanks!

Ya I feel like I should have gotten a CCIE by now. I drug my feet on several occasions, had some life events happen and get in the way (I let them get in the way and used it as an excuse), fell into some bad habits at times (I'm a long time gamer nerd), and I still struggle on occasion to get my wife on board with understanding my need for study time.

My time spent with CCNP has definitely been a GIANT eye opener for what it will take to get my IE. Like I mentioned, I learned a lot about myself and my habits and learned what it takes to accomplish the end goal.

bharvey92

Really great stuff Daniel, followed your progress on here for a very long time - and it's great to see you finally nail that CCNP! What's next mate?

--chris--

Danielh22185 wrote: »

LOL! Thanks!

Ya I feel like I should have gotten a CCIE by now. I drug my feet on several occasions, had some life events happen and get in the way (I let them get in the way and used it as an excuse), fell into some bad habits at times (I'm a long time gamer nerd), and I still struggle on occasion to get my wife on board with understanding my need for study time.

My time spent with CCNP has definitely been a GIANT eye opener for what it will take to get my IE. Like I mentioned, I learned a lot about myself and my habits and learned what it takes to accomplish the end goal.

I used to have a hard time with getting my wife to "get" studying for certs...she comes from a medical background where you only get certified if needed for the job and its alwasy paid for by the hospital.

Once I got CCNA and got a better job because of it, she was on-board lol.

Danielh22185

bharvey92 wrote: »

Really great stuff Daniel, followed your progress on here for a very long time - and it's great to see you finally nail that CCNP! What's next mate?

IE is next for sure! I am already cracking into the videos from INE. I am though casually through them. My son will be born in 3 weeks so I am not trying to get too hot and heavy into anything at the moment.

--chris-- wrote: »

I used to have a hard time with getting my wife to "get" studying for certs...she comes from a medical background where you only get certified if needed for the job and its alwasy paid for by the hospital.

Once I got CCNA and got a better job because of it, she was on-board lol.

Ya she has seen the progression it has made for my career. 5 years ago I was working help desk and didn't know squat. She just struggles from time to time when I have to lock myself away. With IE I am definitely going to have to hand her a written plan we can expect to keep to allow me to progress my studies.

bharvey92

Danielh22185 wrote: »

IE is next for sure! I am already cracking into the videos from INE. I am though casually through them. My son will be born in 3 weeks so I am not trying to get too hot and heavy into anything at the moment.

Nice one, what videos are you going through? I did start watching the advanced technologies ones, haven't managed to get the normal written exam videos. I'm in the same kind of boat as you, which is watching them casually.

Danielh22185

bharvey92 wrote: »

Danielh22185 wrote: »

IE is next for sure! I am already cracking into the videos from INE. I am though casually through them. My son will be born in 3 weeks so I am not trying to get too hot and heavy into anything at the moment.

Nice one, what videos are you going through? I did start watching the advanced technologies ones, haven't managed to get the normal written exam videos. I'm in the same kind of boat as you, which is watching them casually.

Some of the more complex route stuff has escaped me since I haven't had to apply it towards the tests and or real world applications in a while, so I am starting with layer 3 tech, specifically BGP. I am just kinda just going through it in no logical order as a first watch.