![Passing that [CCNA] exam triggered a chain of events I could never have predicted. First, I was a student, then a teacher, then a Cisco instructor, and I eventually became a Cisco VIP.](/content/dam/cisco-cdc/site/images/photography/learn/3200/elvin-arias-hero-banner-3200x600.jpg)
Has earning a Cisco certification positively changed your life or career, or both? Do you think your Cisco certification story would help encourage other people to earn their Cisco certification? If so, we want to talk to you!
How it all began
No job is too big or too small
As a numbers guy, I decided to study economics. But I didn’t enjoy it. Then a friend convinced me to join him at the Institute of Technology. They offered an associate degree that was essentially a degree in Cisco technology. While there, the institute made us a terrific offer. They’d give us a voucher for the CCNA exam, and if we passed, they would send us to a larger university, with a scholarship, to finish our engineering degrees. Passing that exam triggered a chain of events I could never have predicted. First, I was a student, then a teacher, then a Cisco instructor, and I eventually became a Cisco VIP.
No job is too big or too small
I work for Amazon where I do a little bit of everything—automation, architecture, operations, deployment, Amazon Web Services. I basically work at the edge of the network where I scale the infrastructure. I do have smaller tasks that I do daily, but I dedicate half of my time to the bigger projects. I'm a highly technical and very detailed person, so I do like working on everything. I get the best of both worlds—I solve day-to-day problems and I also help chart the course of our company’s future.
About Elvin
Certifications
CCNA
CCNP
CCIE
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Hobbies
Going to places in Ireland to walk
Elvin Arias Soto
What would you tell your younger self?
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. You can accomplish so much by challenging yourself. But if you are afraid to fail, you won’t push yourself. You won’t discover new interests. And you won’t build a rewarding career. Take a few risks, and if they don’t work out, learn from the experience and become even better.
What would you tell a friend?
Go for it. I would say go through any program, or study on your own, whatever works for you. But definitely earn that first certification, because once you do, opportunities will find you. Learn the fundamentals to develop a solid technical foundation, then pursue the other certifications that interest you most. You can get certified for collaboration, routing and switching, service provider, or enterprise. You mix in automation or other software skills. There is so much to learn and so many paths you can take.
Career path
Certification path
Read more certification success stories
Micheline Murphy
"I derive a great deal of pride from having these certs. Certifications are a box I can stand on in front of the room and be the expert. They help me to stand up with confidence and authority."
Consulting engineer
CCNA, CCNP Data Center, CCNP Enterprise
Yasser Auda
"You can do anything. You just need to decide to do it, have the will to do it, and never give up. Be confident in yourself and stop the barriers in your mind."
Network security architect
CCNA, CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, Cybersecurity Associate, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, DevNet Associate, DevNet Professional
Mira Eilenstein
"Cisco certifications are food for my brain. Cisco is known to have difficult exams. I could pass an exam from some unknown vendor, but it wouldn't help me. Plus, just having a Cisco certification opens doors."
Senior security consultant
CCNA, Cybersecurity Associate, DevNet Associate, CCNP Security