guyz im depressed i need encouragement

[jjoel]

I always thought networking would be something interesting to go into. I saw that they got paid decent money and got a basic idea of what they do and it sounded good to me. this is my senior year in high school and i had the opportunity of taking a networking class at a college. Well the first couple of weeks of the class was real interesting because we got right into networking setting up our computers using TCP/IP stuff. i learned about mapping networking drives and what all the numbers mean etc...

Well the psat several weeks we've been doing NOVELL networking which has really turned me off to networking and almost to comptuers all together. we've lectured only 2 or 3 times all year on NOVELL. the rest has been reading our DULL book and going through test banks. the books are very dry and i have a hard time reading books anywayz im not much of a reader. i'm reading through chapter 6 of novel networking 5.0 and have just looked at the end of the chapter to read the questions and i dont even know the answers to all but one. i'm really depressed because i just dont feel like im picking up on any of this and i'm just not sure if i like any of this.

could you guyz give me any sort of encouragement? maybe something like this has happened to you? maybe a suggestion for a different field on something. i love computers to death but i just can't stand teaching myself novell its just dry dry dry stuff.

thanks for whatever imput you guyz might give me

jjoel

[sea69]

perhaps a tutor?

with a more personalized view and practicle application it could hold more interest!

;)

Novell may seem to be a drag but it is used everywhere.

[Whyzman]

Hmmmmm.....

Well jjoel, I don't know what all to tell you about the classroom stuff. However, as in most things, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it! That's the upside. Often what appear to be roadblocks are actually widows of opportunity. Most folks simply turnaround when encountering resistance. Enter the law of "supply and demand!" The fewer folks willing to venture on in the face of adversity can demand more for their expertise!

The guy who probably really needs to address your woes and concerns in the realm of networking is Ghosthacker. Hopefully, he'll venture by.

Hang in there dude! ;)

[Budfred]

Do you know anyone you could work with as a gofer who is working with Novell. If you can get more hands on time, you will probably find it easier to stay motivated and to learn what is in the books.

Good luck,
Budfred

[Whyzman]

I just noticed that Ghost is around...hadn't seen him a while...

[jjoel]

93% of the ppl are here to get there CISCO certification. most of them couldn't even care less about novell. the highschool studentst are the ones having trouble with novell.

[hawk7771us]

jjoel as you go on in life you'll come to a lot of crossroads some are bumpy and some are smooth you may even come to a brick wall in the road.Some of us will have the ability to leap over it.Most of us will have to inch and crawl climbing over the top,just to keep on going.Well I haven't been to school since 1975 or76 yes I find reading microsoft windows xp inside out boring.The way I look at it is,if I do not read and study it. How will I know what to do if something goes wrong with my computer.Yes we all have friends who we could call to for help.So how many times can you call them.Yes I can come here and get all the answers I want.Which would you rather do dig a hole or use the knowledge that you have learned to have someone dig that hole. Knowledge is the most powerful tool in the world.Yes sometimes it boring. Learn all you can and if you find it not to your likening, go on and learn something else.Knowledge will never kill you but sometimes getting there is boring.

[BigBlue66]

Hey, I know right where you're at. In college and especially studying for the CPA exam, I had lots of dry boring material to read and learn. Lots of times, it would do its best to put me to sleep.

I got through it by adjusting my attitude towards it. I figured, hey, this is stuff I am going to have to know, so may as well keep my goals in sight, but really buckle down to what's right in front of me.

Try to look at this Novell stuff as just a necessary evil. You will need the knowledge, sooner or later. Grit your teeth and dive into with an open mind, thirsty for that knowledge.

I know it's easier said than done, but you'll be surprised at what you can do if you really set your mind to it. And then someday, you will be oh so glad you did it.

[ranchdog]

Here's my take on all of it....

If I can't whistle on my way to work

and

whistle on my way home from work

then I find a different job.


RD.

[sea69]

RD

;)

Here's my take on all of it....

If I can't whistle on my way to work

and

whistle on my way home from work

then I find a different job.


RD.



:D

[rahulkothari]

jjoel, i am studying IT engg and sometimes (infact alwez !) find all this theory stuff useless and highly boring. We have a topic called Semiconductor and the entire topic is filled with only 2 words - electrons and holes. i spent hours trying to understand it PRACTICALLY but i just dont seem to get it ... this electron-holes stuff has drilled a hole in my head. it has driven me nuts.... so much so that i call myself a confused-electron :D

.... but still i have to study - to pass - to become an engg, but hey i still havent given up and never will ... i m still trying to figure out what is this hole and electron PHYSICALLY ... perhaps, i will find an answer someday soon (hopefully 'soon'). if i feel bored and give up, i challenge myself, talk to myself, insult myself (oh sh*t, rahul, you should feel ashamed of yorself, studying engg and dont know what is electron-hole .... ) ... and this, yeh this "insult" really gets me working with full flow (again)....

so all i wanna say is JUST DONT GIVE UP.

[Ghost_Hacker]

Don't let a bad experince with one network OS turn you off your goal of getting into networking as a career. There are LOTS of diffferent networking "tracks", so just because your having a hard time with Novell ( and without any lab time it would be hard for anyone. ) doesn't mean you won't be a whiz at Cisco or Linux or Microsoft networking.


You might try concentrating on the more general topics of Novell that apply to all types of networks. For instance, the Novell training I took had very good TCP/IP information that I could then try out on the lab computers or at home. It is these general topics that you should use to measure your interest in networking as a career.


Hands on work is very important in learning this stuff and without it only the most geekie of folks would do well or even find it interesting. :) So you might want to check if there is any lab time for your class, if not you should look for classes that provide this. (My first network classes had 2 to 3 hours of lecture and then I could spend up to 5 hours in the lab before the night classes came in. I don't think I would have found networking very interesting at all without both the lab and my own home computer to play with.) Speaking of home computers,if you have access to a few computers at home you can get demo software and play around with it. I remember Novell use to give out single license sever software as demos in their classes, Microsoft does much the same thing. You might also see if your teacher can help you. (all CNEs have access to Novell demos for most of their products. MCSE's can get demos of Micorsoft's products.) As a last resort you can even buy a DVD from Novell with all their demos and other goodies on it for a few bucks.


I wish I could tell you that you won't see more book theory in networking classes, but I can tell you that most everyone has a hard time with it. So don't let that get you down!!!!!



Good Luck :)

[Ghost_Hacker]

Another strange double post......

[deddard]

Originally posted by rahulkothari
jjoel, i am studying IT engg and sometimes (infact alwez !) find all this theory stuff useless and highly boring. We have a topic called Semiconductor and the entire topic is filled with only 2 words - electrons and holes. i spent hours trying to understand it PRACTICALLY but i just dont seem to get it ... this electron-holes stuff has drilled a hole in my head. it has driven me nuts.... so much so that i call myself a confused-electron :D

.... but still i have to study - to pass - to become an engg, but hey i still havent given up and never will ... i m still trying to figure out what is this hole and electron PHYSICALLY ... perhaps, i will find an answer someday soon (hopefully 'soon'). if i feel bored and give up, i challenge myself, talk to myself, insult myself (oh sh*t, rahul, you should feel ashamed of yorself, studying engg and dont know what is electron-hole .... ) ... and this, yeh this "insult" really gets me working with full flow (again)....

so all i wanna say is JUST DONT GIVE UP.

Electron - hole pairing? GIVE IT UP NOW!! I studied electronic servicing for 3 years, (computer and control systems) and we went through this. The easiest thing to remember is ...... it all runs on electricity, some bits are positive and some are negative:D Unless you're about to go work for IBM or Intel, this stuff just don't matter!
As for the networking - I haven't got there yet. I've just started my A+ course, and as the course is funded by government, I've got to do a year before my exam. I've no doubt I'll learn a few things, but right now (Win 98 etc) it is mega-boring. But you gotta stick at it - definitely try to get some hands-on as a gopher if you can. it's not til you start blowing things up......I mean actually setting things up that you'll see it all gel.;)

[yawningdog]

This is a good time for a word about discipline.

For instance, when most people start a martial arts class, they are excited to learn something new, but when it gets old, they tend to quit because they lose interest and after that happens, its just plain hard. That is the time when the real work ethic pays off.

Some folks can watch 3 hours of tv at a sitting, that doesn't mean they are disciplined at it. It only means they are doing what they like. Discipline goes beyond doing something because its fun.

Work through this. Handcuff yourself to your desk and shut off all distractions. You must literally force yourself to study sometimes, but this is the kind of studying that counts most. You'll thank yourself in a few years. There is no simple or easy solution.

Additionally, this kind of thing never stops. You've chosen a career that will require constant education and re-education. Get good at it now, and it will become easier.

[david eaton]

As a followup to yawningdog's post, I would add that if you stick with it, and succeed, you will not only have learnt this subject, but you will also have taught yourself to learn ANY subject, and that cna't be a bad thing can it? Been there, done that :cool:

David