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15 Jul 2005
Arfa Karim Randhawa, aged 10, has become the youngest person to be certified as a Microsoft engineer.
Randhawa passed her Microsoft Certified Professional examinations last year. She met Bill Gates this week and was taken on a tour of Microsoft's Redmond campus.
The 10 year-old, from Faisalabad in Pakistan, asked Gates why children were not allowed to work for Microsoft and was told that they should concentrate on their school studies.
But he explained that Microsoft has an intern programme which would be available to her once she reached high school level.
Randhawa also asked why there are so few women in the company, suggesting that Microsoft should have an equal number of men and women.
Gates replied that it is sometimes difficult to get women interested in technology.
After first discovering computers at the age of five Randhawa pestered her father for a PC. She has been accepted into Pakistan's Applied Technologies advanced computer institute.
Randhawa is now a Microsoft Certified Application Developer but plans to become a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, which involves building programs into broader systems for business.
In the longer term she has her sights set on Harvard, or a career at Microsoft.
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Do you agree?
any one can do with such resources
i do't think she has done anything special,her parents give her plate form and she did it.i think every pakistani can do more than it if having great facilities like her.
Posted by: sonia 12 Jul 2011
Featured on GoodJobDude
She is also featured on goodjobdude.com http://goodjobdude.com/microsoft-certified-whizkids/
Posted by: goodjobdude 23 Oct 2009
lol nice going
argh!!!! i cant beleive my eyes. I thought i was good with computers being able to build them and stuff like that, but a ten year old computer engineer lol four year difference between me.
Posted by: Josh 12 Jan 2008
Arfa wonder kid
Arfa U r rally wonderful I have been searching the web for weeks to know more about you yur family background. Keeeeep it up we are proud of you.
Posted by: Najeeb Ullah Gilgity 10 Oct 2007
GREAT!
Gud Arfah! Pakistan is proud of you!! keep it up!! best of luck!
Posted by: Ramsha 09 Apr 2007
awesome
genius u are....wau to go
Posted by: Rahul 14 Aug 2006
WOW!!
WOW!! I am soooo glad to hear that your are Pakistani because I am too. So good luck and best wishes.
Posted by: Komal Rahman 13 Jul 2006
Another Pakistani Kid..........................
Young and genious Pakistani kid broke the world record by passing the Microsofts exam and becoming worlds most youngest MCP - Microsoft Certified Professional - at the age of 9years and 27 days only. The Worlds Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), passed the exam on 29th March 2006 through Prometric testing center. Name: Babar Iqbal Fathers Name: Engineer Mr. Abdul Shahid Sadiq Date of Birth: 02 March 1997 Place of Birth: Dera Ismail Khan Province: NWFP Country: Pakistan Class: 5th Key Skills: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Web Development, Microsoft FrontPage XP, Flash MX, Director MX. Family distinction: 5 brother and sisters are Microsoft Certified .Babar Iqbal being the Youngest. His sister Asifa Khan studying in the 7th , who is elder to him, aged 11 Years 4 months and 17 days is also a Microsoft Certified Professional. Others are following : Asif Iqbal MCP, MCAD.NET , MCSD.NET , MCDBA , MCSA , CIW Security Analyst, Brainbench Certified E-mail: ai.itprofessional@gmail.com Kashif Khan MCP, MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CWNA,Brainbench Certified IT Manager Taj Al Mulook General Trading LLC,Dubai www.tajchem.com Mobile No: +971502753725 Saima Khan MCP Transcript id :725359 Access Code:youngestmcp Check his website www.babariqbal.com
Posted by: Nauman Chaudhry 25 May 2006
Mera sona bacha
Arfa a brilliant yet enchanting child. What else can i say about you sonay bache You took away the hearts of every person in the institute. Love you alot Afra
Posted by: Zulfiqar Ali Raffad 16 Mar 2006
well done
well done im 10 and good luck with it
Posted by: emily 02 Mar 2006
Read
She EARNED the Certification. It isn't something you can wish for. She probably does read these posts. I'm certain she reads more than most people. The thing about a gifted child is this. They can learn lots of stuff but they also still enjoy being children and should be allowed to take the time to do that. One minute they are in "adult speak" and the next they are being a silly kid with their friends. That's normal, good and the way it should be for them. Sometimes the more mundane things in life are high in value and importance. Some of us realize that in retrospect. Having an advantage is always good. Balance is also a good thing. Advantage and balance need each other to function well long term. Congratulations Afra on your Certification.
Posted by: Jethro 31 Jan 2006
no fair
i am a ten yearold too and i want a job
Posted by: marystella 08 Jan 2006
right on arafa
i am a ten yearold too and just becuase a ten year old or any year old wants a job let them have it a kid just wants to help or raise money for when they are big
Posted by: marystella 08 Jan 2006
??
I think we all need to ask ourselves; do you think this kid is reading these comments? Furthermore, do you think that supporting or contending her certification is going to matter? If she received her certification legitimately good for her, if not she'll be under quite the squeeze if she doesn't crack open some books and get some experience. As for these back and forth comments, if I want to sneer in the shadows at this kid for having no life I can, at the same time if I want to pat her on her back it is my choice. Problem solved, like or dislike... whatever.
Posted by: Thales 04 Jan 2006
MAC?
Now that's a stupid comment. It is not too easy to get Mac's out of the US, and they are very expensive. And if anything, programming is programming. It is easier to do on a PC than a mac, currently. We are not just limited to Windows, by the way. Thumbs up to her.
Posted by: ProgramSynthesiser 01 Dec 2005
Very good!
This is quite a coincidence. I may not be certified but I am about the same age and run my own advanced software and web application development company. I am doing quite well as being so young but I personally think that it is a very good thing to know that there are more kids that see that theres much more to computers than chatting and games.
Posted by: Kai 26 Nov 2005
Hello
Well, whether or not she succeded scrupulously doesn't mean we need to contend one with another. Eventually, she'll have to prove herself one way or another, so just let it be. If she does, then, that's great!
Posted by: ai 17 Nov 2005
Can she fix M$ code?
If yes, then 'Go Girl' we need help!
Posted by: who cares 31 Aug 2005
Morons abound
Hey Hassan -- you're entitled to your opinion, such as it is, but then you hypocrit, you're just as prejudiced as those you chastise. We talk about a corrupt system. Only an infintile egomanic would push the "but she's an innocent child" button. Nothing more than a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Posted by: Ranjit sawitt 26 Aug 2005
Grow up... uh...or shut up
I am appalled; the reactions from the multitude of people who have posted their opinions on this page are absolutely shocking. Here we have a ten-year old who has managed to attain a landmark which is almost impossible. There is nothing that comes to my mind except appreciation and respect for this young lady. She has managed to attain fame for her country and her achievement is of course, unprecedented. What does she get in return? A host of people arguing over how she did it, what else she ought to have done and one way or the other endeavoring to legitimize that this is not a big deal. Well, try to think with an impartial and prejudice-free mind: This IS a big deal- they don't come bigger than this. You sound like her classmates trying to establish that she cheated her way to becoming what she has become whereas you are adults divulging your views. Shame on your prejudiced, whimsical and imbecile mentality. Apparantly your parents did not manage to do as good a job in your upbringing as hers did. As for those who expressed their appreciation for the child, I have nothing to say to them because they are normal people and their reactions are instinctive. Yes, instinctively we WOULD be compelled to be flabbergasted by what we see here. But no, some people here fight that instinct and have turned an ACHIEVEMENT, a blithering RECORD into an issue... Prejudice is ignorance. Jealousy is a fire kindled by the soul, like self-immolation. Watching a CHILD attain something big and burning yourself is such a sorry way to express your self- learn to appreciate. But then again, I do not expect you to LEARN at all. I guess many of the people who have posted their comments here might as well be studying/working for as long as this child's age. Normality is not common at all.
Posted by: Hassan 23 Aug 2005
congrats
fabulous!i am astonished.She should revolutionise the female education ,female rights in her country
Posted by: bhargava 15 Aug 2005
misconception
i am a woman from Pakistan and let me tell you people our country is not as backward as many peole would like to think it is. we had a woman prime minister,not once but thrice..so to my best of knowledge women have far more rights here than they have in many developed countries of the world.
Posted by: fatima 15 Aug 2005
Great Job Arfa Karim Randhawa
as a MCSE i'm proud of Arfa Karim Randhawa great job.
Posted by: Suthan 06 Aug 2005
Wrong country
Hey guys, she's from Pakistan...
Posted by: tomax7 04 Aug 2005
Interesting
I could easily go on with the "encouragement" spoof, but logically it sounds absurd. If you look at the exam topics from a solely technical perspecive, there is no way you can get a decent score unless you have some relevant experience with programmng and software development. However with the the hoards of brain dumps, and answers available to all the questions, it is not as diffcult to "clear" the exam if you can identify a pattern, and get some specialized guidance. Her certification, in my opinion is a smack on microsoft's execs faces that they should revise the certification methods, and the architecture of the exams so that it does not become a joke in the developer community. The concept of certification is good if in the end you actually learn something and enhance your skills. But the way some people do it, is just mockery to the certification phenomenon.
Posted by: vector 03 Aug 2005
Ravi's comment
Mr. Ravi u might be forgetting many Indian childs have done such things many years before, writing Masters exams, driving cars/motors and many more. Indian parents are not jealous but do appriciate her hardwork and talent. I m really felt surprized to her questions to Bill, abt women ratio in a company. Good Work Arfa
Posted by: rahul 27 Jul 2005
Ten year-old becomes Microsoft engineer
Great Achievement. Hope parents from India will not feel jealous on her.
Posted by: RAVI 26 Jul 2005
Braindumps as a way of garnering respect
There was a time when everyone at Microsoft was encouraged to take the exams for their areas of concentration. All the Technical Account Managers are supposed to have MCSE within 6 months of accepting the position. Most do the 6 tests required for certification in about a month, because they study the answers. They have a 2 week crash course where they are given the answers to study; not really learning anything. Since India and Pakistan have become heavily interested in taking the jobs away from persons in the U.S. they have had people document the questions on the MCP exams as a way of learning the answers needed to pass and thereby garner the respect of being a computer guru. Microsoft and Mr. Gates are so sorely out of touch with the plight of their own workers that working for Microsoft is no longer desireable for most U.S. workers that want to retain a modicum of dignity and their sanity. Managers at Microsoft are more inclined to satisfy job openings on the basis of diversity rather than technical ability. A 10 year old who passes a couple of tests whose answers are easily found on the internet, is of no more interest than that of the same child being given a tour of the Redmond sweatshop by its has-been opportunist founder!
Posted by: Stan West 25 Jul 2005
who cares?
if it was mac of microsoft...not everything has to be about this age old dispuite between the two. you're missing the point...THIS TEN YEAR OLD got off her ass, and did something no one thought she could. and you're getting hung over the fact that it wasn't a MAC?
Posted by: julianna 24 Jul 2005
My Letter to the American Education System
Dear American Education System: PAKISTAN of all places is kicking our ****, stop blaming Bush for everything and do something you intellectual ignoramuses. America is not the best and the brightest anymore, and we've been slipping since long before Bush(42) got into office. Yes, this means you Democrats are at fault too, imagine that "startling" development. My recommendation is to worry about the instruction of 10-year olds, not the "inherent evil" of Bush-nominees for various positions that you have spent all your energy and our tax dollars fillibustering. Pakistan has a 10 year old engineer and we've got 10 year olds who can't even read yet. This is a clear indication of complacency or even downright incompetence on the part of all parties involved (e.g. not just Bush). Sincerely, Disgruntled American Voter.
Posted by: Nateitude 23 Jul 2005
Geek!
Geek!
Posted by: john 22 Jul 2005
Congrats.. a Prodigy
Hey.. for a 10 year old, a wonderful accomplishment.. Regardless of the OS..
Posted by: ct 22 Jul 2005
Sour Grapes?
What is wrong with some people? How about a bit of encouragement for Arfa? How many of the detractors have certification - in anything? I say 'Good for her!' P.S. The only MAC worth having is the one that keeps you dry when it rains.
Posted by: Gezoo 21 Jul 2005
Congrats !!!!!!!!!!
My warmest congrats and wish to your bright future. SL
Posted by: Kumara 20 Jul 2005
Childs Play
We all know anyone can pass the MCSE, now lets see if she can pass an Apple ACSA (Apple Certified Systems Administrator) exam. It's all unix and command line for those of you not familiar with it...and there are VERY few of them to be found...
Posted by: Anon Coward 20 Jul 2005
a ?MAC?
"If she was truly gifted, she would have begged her father for a MAC." I've heard of this computer system before. Doesn't Fisher-Price put it out under the "My First PC" name? She's MICROSOFT certified because she wants a future. What was Apple's market statement the last three years? Summed up by "Bill bailed us out again, thank God! Maybe we can tell our users it was over a lawsuit settlement for the GUI concept... which the Commodore 64.. oh crap and XEROX.... had years before I stole.. errr.. invented it and then Bill stole it from me"
Posted by: Fox 20 Jul 2005
MAC?
MACs are the dumbest machines ever made!
Posted by: ??unknown?? 20 Jul 2005
true genius?
If she was truly gifted, she would have begged her father for a MAC.
Posted by: TOMBA 19 Jul 2005
Congrats!
Bill should start putting her name on the payroll ;-) What a talent!
Posted by: laikos 19 Jul 2005
Amazing Born Talent!
This very young girl has a wonderful life ahead for herself plus her Family. Thank God for a nice and gifted child that can do good in this world of ours.
Posted by: Robert 19 Jul 2005
rawr
MACS SUCK.
Posted by: bob 19 Jul 2005
We Want Her!
My name is Ignacius, from an international users group called "msJovenes". We have young members around the world, and I think she is very good example of Us.
Posted by: Ignacius 18 Jul 2005
look! a flying cow!
trust me, one day rabbits will program .NET while Bill get awfully busy selling his products to caterpillars...
Posted by: eman 17 Jul 2005
Bright Child
Her parents must be very proud. Don't be surprised if, when MIT Media Labs $100 laptop initiative gets going, this becomes a lot more common.
Posted by: Dan 16 Jul 2005