Ayan Qureshi is the youngest ever Microsoft Certified Professional. That means he knows how to do things like encrypt a removable drive using Microsoft’s encryption software or troubleshoot Internet Explorer bugs.
The 1990s-tinged certification test he took inside that conference center is still the standard for many corporate and government jobs. Microsoft calls these tests “rigorous, industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams.” But for Ayan—who scored 700 out of 1,000 on the test, said it was a fun thing to do in between swimming and playing tag with his brother.
While other kids were playing video games and watching TV, Ayan was installing and configuring operating systems and tinkering with routers and switches. This is not every kid’s idea of fun, but Ayan is different. “I knew that if I introduced him to the games, he would not go for this,”says his dad, Asim Qureshi,
Ayan, who turned six after his July 24 exam, started getting into computers about three years ago. “He used to sit next to me and watch me very carefully,” says his father who also works in IT. So Asim started explaining the basics to his son: how to turn a computer on, how to power down, how to access the control panel. Before he knew it, Asim had built his son a mini computer-lab in his home office, and Ayan was spending one-to-two hours per day playing around with the operating system.
Although he’s now a Certified Professional, it’s still going to be awhile before Ayan puts his skills on the market. “At the moment, he’s just concentrating on his school,” says Asim Qureshi. “But he also will be improving his IT skills.”
