What Joel said is where I got my start in Networking - kinda.  I fell
into a job teaching Networking, so I begged old parts, and ended up 
with a pile of 486's and Pentiums.  I set up a heterogeneous network
(http://georgetoft.com/network/index.html) and learned how to set it 
up.  A really big help was the liberal use of "Ethereal" which allowed
me to see what was inside of the packets.  Also, the Linux Network 
Administrators Guide (which I have in print) is Golden.

WestNet and 3Com partnered in an eight course program leading to 
two certifications.  The textbook is great.  If you can find a copy,
do so.  I don't remember the name (my copy is in storage - sorry).

George




> Tyler Hall wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> I need your guy's advice,  I'm hoping to get into the field of
> networking in the near future.  Such as, managing a school or a
> company's network.   I'm going to school right now at Chandler-Gilbert
> Community College, to get this stupid degree in "Microsoft
> Networking"  I think it's a waste of my time and money.   I'm looking
> for someone that is in that field, and would be willing to tell me,
> what steps I should take.  I currently just graduated from high
> school, so i'm still young.   Any advice would be helpful.
> 
> Please reply privately, so we don't disturb the public list :)
> 
> Tyler Hall
> 
> "Goddam it, you'll never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole!
> Follow me!"
> - Captain Henry P. "Jim" Crowe (Guadalcanal, January 13, 1943)