Zend Certified Engineer
I made a big financial sacrifice and committed a huge amount of time to changing career, after 15 years in construction. I was motivated by a need to make something positive come out of my friend Matts death. He was an artist trapped in a surveyors body and I was just rubbish at surveying.
I studied hard and I made it, but I still don't feel good enough. I only have a HND in Computing and I have taught myself all the tools that I use today. So it's a big deal to me to get a bit of paper that says 'She did it, she knows her stuff'. I want to be a Zend Certified Engineer. I need that rubber stamp of approval from the Daddy's of PHP.
So I did the certification course for three days in Leeds last week. I overcame my total fear of eating out alone (well almost, I did it in the hotel every night, even though the food was rank!). I met an inspirational man, who has educated himself and worked really hard to forge a career in Scotland after moving here from Turkey. Murat the MAMIL! doing 10 big cycle rides in 2011 to celebrate turning 40.
My exam is booked for mid June. If I pass, I get a badge for my website.