Sitting for my first Microsoft exam on February 2nd: the 70-680.  Sometimes I wonder why I’m doing these exams.  Is it to learn more?  Sure.  Is it to “better myself as a person and contribute to society?”  Yeah, why not; we’ll throw that in there too.   But I’m sitting here, finishing the prep for yet another certification exam I can’t help but get a bit introspective and question my own motives.  Is it money?  Skill?  Bragging rights?  Hell, I don’t know.  Yes, no, who cares?  I’m half-convinced that I’m doing this just to prove to myself and everyone else that I can.

Update 3/11/13: I wanted to update here that I did, in fact, pass this exam.  It was substantially harder than any of the CompTIA exams.

So I’ve recently passed my third CompTIA certification: Security+.  That makes three certs in the last 4 months.  I’ve received my A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications as of today.  Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking these certifications are impressive, they’re not.  Respectable, sure, but not impressive.   Personally, I don’t care how impressive the certifications are; I didn’t get them because of what other people would think of them (or me).  I got them for myself.

See, I have a B.S. in Ministry.  I know the Bible inside and out.  I know theology and I have the paper to prove it.  But when it comes to computers, or anything IT related, I have only my own empty promises to give when I tell others, “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”  While having certifications doesn’t necessarily mean I possess more knowledge than I did before, it feels good to have an organization back me and my skill-set.

These certifications are only the beginning.  I’ve already started prepping for the first exam (of six) in the MCITP track.   My goal is to finish that certification by Christmas 2013.  After that I may take a break, but maybe not.  I’m eye-balling Linux certifications as well as Cisco certifications because those are two areas in which I have a lot of interest.