It can be said of every certification process, in accordance to what is written of Qian Zhongshu's novel "Wei Cheng" or "Fortress Besieged" (1944), that everyone outside thought the inside of the fortress was good, wanted to go in. Everyone inside thought that since coming they'd come in, the fortress had lost its value, and was simply not worth it. Similarly, a lot of people admire those who have obtained the CCNA certification yet there are also a lot of people who have obtained the CCNA who would say it was "simply not worth it." But I think, due to the insight that the CCNA has given me, it's not a chance to learn existing knowledge, but a chance for me to learn how to learn continuously, so if you are like the people inside it, you probably must think that the CCNA had lost its value, was simply not worth it. I only think, regarding the knowledge taught through CCNA, it isn't something only available to be learnt through CISCO's programs, but the chances that CCNA has offered me, it'll never lose its value.

—-Lai Ruiyang, Zhongshan University

Lai Ruiyang is a '98 senior student of the Electronics Department in the Zhongshan University, who has passed the CCNA test with an excellent score (906), is currently studying CCNP by himself, already passed the Routing test, and aiming to become an expert in networking skills.

The Coincidental Origins of Networking

Ruiyang truly experienced networking when the Zhongshan University network opened, and like all the students, he used a Modem to go online, beginning his contact with the colorful world of networking. Coincidentally, there was a part-time job found at the university's networking center, with simple task requirements, helping both teachers and students who don't know how to set up their Modems in their computers, doing basic customer service. But because of this rudimentary job, with almost no skill requirements, Ruiyang's interest in networking was provoked, his gaze running through the vast variety of overwhelming information upon the Internet super highway, making him want to understand: just what lies behind the current of information on the Net?

Ruiyang's second part-time job also didn't stray away from networking, but the skill requirements rose little by little, after several interviews, Ruiyang became Zhongshan University's first student networking engineer-in charge of one student building. His job only required basic networking knowledge, but as he progressed, he came to realize that his knowledge of networking was not enough.

Cisco's Networking Academy Program (CNAP) started in Zhongshan University as a selective course, open to all the students; for students like Ruiyang, it was an extremely rare chance. Unfortunately, when he knew of this news, the course was already full, and reluctantly, Ruiyang became one of the CNAP's "auditing students".

The Winding Road to Certification

"Auditing student" status definitely did not deter Ruiyang's passion for learning networking, because after attending 3 lessons, he experienced deep attraction to the CNAP-every lesson attended let him learn one or two ways of solving problems that had previously troubled him at work, and sometimes even problems he had never thought of appeared; he considered the happiness experienced to be a higher state of studying.

But his title caused him some troubles, as an "auditing student" cannot join the Cisco networking program's examination, so Ruiyang took the initiative to talk with teachers, to contact him right away if someone gives up, but even so, it was hard for Ruiyang to get a seat. Though many students gave up because they heard that the course was taught in English with foreign online examinations and was much stricter than other selective courses, more students immediately filled in the empty seats, knowing that this course was good, and although credits are important, the knowledge itself was worth much more. Ruiyang's persistence moved the teachers, so after about a third of the course had been taught, he was finally accepted as an official CNAP student.

Due to this chance after his many setbacks, Ruiyang was determined to try harder, preparing for the CCNA examination as soon as lessons were over; among students there were only a few taking the examination and they studied together because very little in the school had already passed the exam, so they had to rely on one another. In those two months, sleeping at around 2 or 3am was very common. Once, even several nights in a row were spent studying because Ruiyang was working so hard. The chance to study held a greater value for him.

A Steady Career Direction

In a conversation with Ruiyang, he repeatedly stated that the biggest impact the CNAP had on him was that it helped him find a career direction, surprisingly. The CCNA course gave Ruiyang the chance to learn the CCNP course, and his intensive studying of networking allowed him to become Zhongshan University's campus networking system. "As a student, this is a very, very rare chance!" Ruiyang proudly said.

"I want to be an outstanding networking expert in the future!" Ruiyang's target established, the next stage CCNP was actively pursued. Because Zhongshan University had just obtained Cisco's permission to provide CCNP training, courses had not begun, so Ruiyang could only learn by himself. But the university took the initiative to create its own study conditions, gathering about ten students with a solid interest and foundation in networking, separating them into groups, and dividing up study material, assigning each group their own materials for their research project. Consequently, every group would pass on what they had learned to the rest, each of the students helping and learning from one another. On the practical side, they were given access to Cisco networking equipment in laboratories, boosting their working abilities, as to avoid engaging in idle theorizing like the armchair strategist Zhaokuo.

Ruiyang is currently a new tutor at the Zhongshan University networking center, "Being able to pass on to others the things I've grasped, using my experience to help them not to go round in circles in a very meaningful thing." He said, "CNAP helped decide my career direction, which to me as a student is more important than even money or work!"(Talkback: Post your comment here )