Certified

Last week, I picked up a new certification from Microsoft by passing the second and final exam required. The certification is MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist): .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications. It’s a lengthy title, but it’s also very straight-forward about what the certification covers.

The “computer programmer by day” side of my life focuses on web development primarily. This certification is one that I’ve been studying and working towards for the past six or seven months. I can’t express the relief and joy I felt at the moment I saw the screen display my passing score.

Writing time became certification study time on weeknights. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately my responsibilities towards my programming career take precedence. With the certification in hand, this frees me up much more at night to resume writing projects that had shifted to weekend only projects.

Most published writers have day jobs, and sometimes it can be frustrating to push aside the writing that we love in order to meet the demands of our first careers. I’m posting this update not so much as a brag but to encourage writers that it’s okay to sometimes minimize writing for the right reason. Just be sure that there is a right reason.