On 19 January 2007 my baby boy Boitumelo ( "The Most Appreciated One") was born. Months preceding the birth of the baby, I had to look after my wife, do a physically demanding job to support the family and pay for my CCNA course fees which I hope will help me get an IT job. During these preceding months and in January, I have been consistently submitting my assignments at a regular pace, scoring good grades. Since the birth of the baby delivered by Emergency C.S, I have had sleepless nights but I am even more motivated to finish my CCNA course sooner by consistently doing studies and submitting assignments weekly while still involved in doing all the other duies ,and looking after my wife and the baby. This birth has become another motivation for my success to ensure that my baby will have a secure future in a competitive world. After all his name suggests we should appreciate life and its challenges.

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Going back a couple of months ago I was offered a job with Star Internet working in a NOC however come this new year it didn't happen and they couldn't be bothered to reply to my emails, This of course has been a knock to my confidence with the thought of having to throw bags at the local airport for longer than I hoped, However after a holiday I threw myself back into my books revising for my final TMA on the N+ Course, this in turn has rebuilt my confidence back up and gets me through the days I have to do my current job.
It has also prompted me to carry on pursuing my dream job and instilled faith in me making a decision to pursue my career via skillstrain.

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Using the skills I have learned in the past few months, I set about building and setting up my own home network. Setting up my network, which is both hard wired, and wireless, to connect my Desktop PC, to my Laptop, interfacing with my wireless broadband router, and an external "Network" hard drive, I was feeling quite pleased with my achievements. However my elation was short lived !
I returned home, last Saturday to hear my Desktop PC clicking away to itself, with the power light and the DVD writer busy light flashing continuously. This was also accompanied by a faint "electrical burning" smell. I quickly unplugged the power supply, and with an initial feeling of dread, I opened up the PC Case to start my investigations. I hadn't even removed the cover, when my training, and knowledge started to take over. I cleared a large work area, donned my anti-static wristband, earthed my self and started from the beginning. With notebook and pen, I started my investigations....... disconnect all ancillary components, and those not needed for start-up. Re-connect the power - still the same indications. disconnect the power, and disconnect the power feed to the motherboard. using a multi-meter check the supply voltages to the power connector. +12V only reading 1.3V, +5V only reading 3.1V. Initial reaction - blown power supply. On visually checking the motherboard, there were signs of blackening, and distortion on one of the chips, so I suspected that the Motherboard May be damaged as well. To prove this, I replaced the Power Supply with a known good spare, but on powering up, I got the same indications as before.
I now knew that the power supply was faulty, and either the Motherboard, or Processor, or both was also faulty. I then did some internet research, and discovered that e-machines 790 desktops, (the make of my PC), were susceptible to a triple failure of the Power supply, Motherboard, and processor. I contacted a local PC company who also agreed with my conclusions.

So what next?

Well, having just completed the module on "Purchasing a PC, or building your own", I did some research, and decided that I could upgrade my PC to a "current" spec, at a not too extortionate price. Buying the necessary parts (a WinFast 761GXK8MB Motherboard, and an Athlon 3800 - 64bit processor bundle), I was able to confirm that my current memory was compatible, and that it would fit my existing Tower case. I happily set off home, secure in the knowledge that I had all the parts I needed, and that they would all fit together nicely.
I stripped down the old unit, in the reverse order of building, and replaced the Power supply first. I found that I could slide the DVD drive forward in it's housing, and easily fit the new motherboard. A couple of the connections on the front of my tower had different plugs that would not fit the new Motherboard. However, the motherboard documentation allowed me to modify the connectors, and connect them, (headphone socket, and microphone).

Starting the PC for the first time was a little nerve racking, but no problems starting, no error messages, and apart from having to re-install Windows, I generally had no problems. Loading the drivers for the motherboard, for on-board Video and Sound, from the CD supplied with it, made everything go smoothly, and my system is now up and running again.

My initial reaction, on discovering the failure, was one of dread and despair, but by following the trouble shooting guides, and using the lessons that I have learned, the whole experience turned into a valuable and practical training lesson. I know that I'm not the best PC Technician in the world, but someday...... someday.

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During January I completed the first part of my CCNA studies, having last year passed all my exams for A+ and N+ with flying colors (scoring 870 for A+ Core Hardware exam 220-301, 829 for A+ Operating Systems exam 220-302, and 734 for Network+ exam N10-003) thanks to the structured training I have received from SkillsTrain. On commencing my studies I was initially somewhat intimidated by the apparent complexity of the CCNA syllabus, having not had a great deal of exposure to computer hardware and networking in the past. Now that I have got CCNA underway during this part month and am getting to grips with it I know I have really learned a lot during my studies with SkillsTrain, and feel a sense of achievement to have reached this challenging level of study whilst still working in a full-time job.

Having just completed the revision supplement TMA's today I am looking forward to starting work on the next part of the CCNA course, which will include Live Labs training.

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Just submitted TMA14 (so far with an average pass mark of 88%). My partner and I have just had a baby and are also entering property developement, this is on top of my full time job as a Master Technician for a large automotive manufacturer, and have the stress of a knee operation. So if I can achieve this return on my studying, anyone can. Just stick at it and set achievable goals on each section, and UTILISE the tutor team !
Good luck to everyone on each course.

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On December 22nd 2006 I sat and passed with a result of 100% my comptia network+, which I was over the moon about. This was my first step into the world of networking and after a well deserved festive season break I began work on my ccna mid January. I have just received my TMA1 result-100%-again I am over the moon. My TMA2 has been submitted today and I am confident I will maintain a high % result with this and all of my ccna work. I had wanted to begin work on the ccna earlier in January. However, due to my network+ results and enthusiasm my employers (siemens) have given me the opportunity to "shadow" their network engineers involved in the design and implementation of the network for the new headquarters of BBC SCOTLAND. This is a great opportunity which I have embraced. However it has had a negative effect on my study timetable. Perserverance has helped me achieve a great TMA1 result which I am very proud of. Apparently my hard work and enthusiasm are paying off already as my employers have also agreed to reimburse 50% of my course fees upon completion of the ccna. This is a huge incentive and coupled with the bbc network exposure is making my learning experience fantastic. Albeit more difficult to keep up my self imposed study schedule. I have even managed to setup a small home ,wireless network for my brother and sister-in-law(only two pc's, but we all have to begin somewhere!). The ccna while being difficult has envoked more enthusiasm from me than anything has done for many years. Henec my 9-6 job and "extra" activities with the siemens network engineers has not and will not slow down my learning curve. I would like to thank you all for your help throughout.

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SINCE STARTING THIS COURSE I HAVE BEEN SO INVOLVED AND EXCITED BOUT THE MATERIAL I HAVE BEEN LEARNING. THIS I FIND QUITE OUT THE ORDINARY AS I HAVE HAD MY WORK CUT OUT, FIRST THE AU PAIR HAS BEEN QUITE ILL SO I HAVE HAD TO DO THE HOUSE HOLD CHORES AND LOOK AFTER MY 3 CHILDREN AND NORMAL WORK LOAD, PLUS I HAVE HAD MY WIFES SELF ASSESSMENT TO DO AS SHE HAS HER OWN CATERING BUSINESS. ON TOP OF THIS MY FATHER HAS HAD A STROKE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF HIS BRAIN, I WAS QUITE UNSETTLED EMOTIONALLY AND DRAINED, BUT THIS COURSE HAS TAKEN MY MIND OFF MOST OF THE TEDIOUS DUTIES AND MY DAD SHOULD MAKE A FULL RECOVERY IN TIME. THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF THIS COURSE IS NEW TO ME AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST, THANKYOU.

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My main achievements this month has to be my tutor marked assessments!!I have gained higher marks almost everytime!!!I am very happy with myself for doing so.

Another main achievement I have made this month thanks to the team members of this college, is I have been able to do private work involving my I.T skills that I have obtained due to the team members support, and the skills in which I have learnt through my course. The private work I have done is for people I know and people who have passed me on as a good name. This I am very happy about to, as it gives me experience and confidence in working in an I.T environment!!

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I am an electrician by trade so work really long hours and managing to fit study and family pressures into my very busy day is hard work, but I do. when I first started this course I thought there was no way I would be able to understand the work. my kids have been great, but my wife has been so supportive that it drives me on to study in my spare time and to study the work. I have realised that I love learning new skills and how to sort my self out in finding time to study. what amazes me is that I can remember what I have studied when I sit and do the tma`s. I have repaired 3 computers in the last 3 weeks and am finding it easier each time to understand simple faults on p.c`s. when I started this course I didnt know much about i.t, I knew a bit but not as much as I do now. I can honestly say I really am enjoying the course I have enrolled on. thanks

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As an University student and also working full-time, I find the time to continue my studies with Skillstrain. This course has helped me with my job and a network administrator for over 20 primary schools in the area. The skills I have developed has made me understand the structure of servers and netwrok architectures, to give the children a better network, so they can develop their ICT skills as well; I feel as if I teach the children my way of ICT even though I dont actually teach them, that whats makes me proud of going to work everyday.

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After sustaining a fracture dislocation of the knee, ligamant damage and osteoarthritis whilst serving in the Army many years ago, my health dictated that I must change career direction. Having never studied beyond secondary education level, I decided that due to my interests in all things IT that a career based on my hobby was the way forward. 18 months ago I embarked on the A+, N+, CCNA and CCNP course. Over the past 18 months I've had two additional knee ops and am currently waiting on a third. In the past 18 months I've submitted course work every week, with only one exception. The fact that I have this course to focus on has given me hope that the future is bright. I'm really looking forward to finishing the course and achieving a qualification that is recognised world wide. I'm really proud of myself and my regimented course of study, you're never too old to start something new.

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Well, I fell that I have maintained a high average throughout the A+ part of the course. I have had a few different circumstances in which doing the work has been difficult such as, I am currently working at the same time at Capgemini, a IT Support Company, I do there 7am to 4pm, which is really time consuming becuase I am tired all the time, the only time I get to work is Saturday and Sunday. Apart from this, there was a situation where my mom and dad had to leave over the christmas period to go India. I was left home with my younger brother and sister. My parents left me with the responsibility to pay bills, look after everyone else, do shopping etc. Most these things were extremely hard because I was on a strict budget and taking into account that I do not drive. I feel that sharing the responsibilty between my brother and sister was a good idea, becuase then it relieves pressure from myself.

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Since I applied for CCNA+ course and received my first book, have not had much time to study. Last year after Christmas I decided to start studying, and took it very seriously. I have finished the original N+ PART A book, all my assigments has been marked in 3 weeks, when the updates were released. So I thought that I was going to start the new N+ PART A book from the beginning.
By now I finished this book, just in 2 weeks, send my assignments continously. I have learnt and studied a lot and more every day, gained my knowledge. I am very determined, enjoying studying, wanting to learn, because I have a very good reason. Before I moved to Scotland I had been working in IT for 6 years. I had more practise than theoritical knowledge. This course helps me get to know and learn new things in IT, completely understand what I had done and why in my previous IT jobs. I want to go back to work and establish a new career in IT sector, just love it.

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