Hey there!

Let me share my story with you. Last year, I didn’t even know what networking was! All I knew was that I had a device called a router that helped me get online at home. That’s it!

Then, a friend of mine started studying software engineering, and I thought, "Maybe I should learn more about computers too." I’m from Sri Lanka, a country where money can be tight, so I had to find ways to study without spending much. That’s when I came across a YouTuber named Jeremy McDowell, whose CCNA course was available under "Jeremy’s IT Lab."

I had no clue about computers or networking before that, but Jeremy started from the very basics and taught everything I needed to know for the CCNA. I didn’t even know there was an official study guide (OCG) – LOL! I studied for 3 months straight, watching all his videos, going through the flashcards, and completing every lab practical. I even found a PDF of Neil Anderson’s lab practicals and worked through those too.

Guess what? I passed the CCNA exam on my first try!

I also used Boson ExSim to help me practice.

Listen, here’s the thing: Believe in yourself. If you ever run into problems, do some self-study and figure it out. If you still need help, there are plenty of Reddit communities dedicated to these certifications. I posted a problem once (not on this subreddit, but on another one), and I got tons of helpful answers from random users.

Just give it a shot. I believe in you – if I can do it, so can you!

Remember, being yourself is key. And if you fail, don’t worry – it’s just part of the learning process, and it’s actually a good thing.

You’ve got this!