Over the weekend I read a news story from a UK news website. An IT guy’s son started to take an interest in his practice network at home, and before he knew it, the boy was cabling it all up and creating domains.
He took the Microsoft MCP exam this week and passed!
I was left with mixed feelings about this, as you can imagine. I think kids should be having fun and interacting with other kids – but those are just my values, I think.
I’ve taken a few MCP exams over the years and eventually passed my MCSE. Every one of them was hard and I had to study for several weeks for each of them. Then a 5-year-old rocks up and passes one.
So either this kid is some sort of prodigy or we have to ask ourselves why we are making such a big deal out of the entire studying and exam-taking process.
In all my years in IT I’ve found it hard to prioritize time, get motivated to study, learn the technology and deal with exam nerves. Most 5-year-olds have just learned how to wipe their own butts and not pee their pants!
I don’t have any advice here but I’d encourage you to read the article and draw your own conclusions, and reevaluate how you see the entire exam-taking process.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30054140
Have fun.
Paul
Feel good story but total b.s.
I would have thought he is being immersed in the technology by his father and he is going to follow. He’s at an age where he can soak up the information like a sponge much like learning a language which is easier at that age as he doesn’t have to worry about a mortgage and bills and preparing food and the added stress about passing the exam. I think with most people their whole career rests on passing the exams after studying hard around everyday other stresses. I prefer my children to follow their own dreams not become a mirror for mine, but thats just me. If he’s enjoying it thats fine, like learning guitar or piano etc… but alot of parents push their children so they can show to their neighbours how clear little Johnny is…!!!
Ooccasionly exceptional kids with high iq
Sadly the same kids face other obstacles in life obstacles that they find hard to overcome where as their peers of a lesser iq dont
Wow, It’s amazing to see how five year old have more motivation then some adults. This is major accomplishment for crumb snatcher! “Lol” I am inspired
Perhaps you wont publish my statement,its quite truthfull because I was one of those kids.
kind wishes
Michael Farley
Did you want to see his certificate?
Quite a few ways to look at this (some mentioned previously by others)… still not totally sure how I feel about the whole thing…
.
–Great accomplishment for a 5 year old, but what about “normal” childhood activities?
–Is this kid exceptionally smart, or do we underestimate what kids are capable of?
–I was surprised that MS would allow a 5 year old to sit the exam.
–Is this kid exceptionally smart, or is the MCP child’s play?
–Did he learn the material, or did he learn how to pass an exam? (two very different things)
–What’s next for him? MCSE by 8? CCIE by 12? I guess an advantage there would be you can pay your consultant with a shiny new bike.. 🙂
Just another example of technology being a young person’s profession. I thought there was an age limit on these exams. Certainly on Cisco you are asked to confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Not sure if by saying no, that you would be prevented from taking the exam.
what exam was it? It doesn’t say on any articles I’ve found. I know it doesn’t change how impressive it is particularly but I’m keen to find out.