How I Became a Database Administrator

Thanks to my buddy Ted for Tagging me. (See his blog here, or find him on Twitter @onpnt)

My journey to the position of DBA starts off much like those of others: I graduate from college (with my degree in Psychology) and start looking for work. As a new graduate with a piece of paper to prove it, all I have to show for experience are the odd jobs I held while in High School and College. Fortunately, for me anyway, those jobs were always in an administrative role instead of fast food. Taking my diploma and my admin/customer service skills into the workforce I found myself employed – as a ‘secretary’ as they were called back then.

Fortune smiled upon me once again, having more than half a brain, and I ended up being the Go-To Person in the office when someone couldn’t get their computers to behave the way they expected: network issues, printing, using applications, you name it and I fixed it. Evenutally, I had the good fortune to take a class on how to use Microsoft Access. As my first introduction to the word ‘database’ and learning about datastorage and querying, I was hooked! As fate would have it, my Administrative Assistant position was no longer needed and I was in search of another opportunity.

I went back to that company where I took the database class. They were hiring! For the next three years, I worked as a Software Trainer. I began teaching VBA and .net classes and had my first taste of SQL Server teaching T-SQL. As I started to talk more with my students, I realized I wanted to get out there and use the skills I had been teaching everyone else. This leads to my first Real Job™ as a developer for a booming Dot-Com and what I like to call the “Sold My Soul” years. As much work as it was, this opportunity did give me the stepping stone to becoming a DBA, though. About 4 weeks into my first full-fledged .net developer position, the DBA walked out. When management looked around the room and said, “who here knows anything about databases? Ah, yes – Wendy! You’re our new DBA” well, the rest is history.

Formal training has not existed since that first Microsoft Access class. Sometimes it reminds me of the saying “Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”; other times it’s a struggle to make sure I keep up and learn whatever I can whenever the opportunity strikes. Fortunately there is a wealth of information on the interenet and many wonderful resource books. However, I learn best in hands on situations. This makes conferences that much more valuable for me. While I have attended a TechEd here and there, my preferred conference is SQLPass (www.sqlpass.org). It’s refreshing to be a contributing member or a professional community.

I still haven’t reached my personal professional goal, and while I can’t reveal what that is, I promise to share it when I do!

My SQL 'rap' Entry

Okay, I'll finally admit to doing it. Back in May, I entered a very funny contest hosted by Michelle Ufford (@sqlfool). The idea was to take SQL Server concepts and put them to the tune of a rap, or come up with something completely your own. Since my own musical writing ability is limited, to say the very least, I went with the more popular "Filk" method.

Here is my contest entry. Sing along if you like!


To the tune of Beyonce’s Single Ladies (the tune we love to hate!)


All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies

Now put your hands up
Up in the cube, server blew up
I'm runnin' my own little scripts
gotta find the fix get it online quick
before users start screaming
Kim-ber-ly Tripp and sql team
your ex-per-tise is sal-va-tion
cuz I profiled this, used DMVs
Now it's running smooth

[Chorus]
Cuz if you break it then we trace it and we will find it
If you break it then we trace it and we will find it
Don't be mad once we prove that you caused it
If you break it then we trace it and we will find it

wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2

[Chorus]

Select * in the code, .net won't load
get it through to development team
acting up, better clean it up
I could care less what you think
I need no permission, I'm the admin
please close your every transaction
Cuz you had your turn
But now you gonna learn
Better read some Kalen Delaney

[Chorus]
wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2
[Chorus]
wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2

Don't forget the women of the PASS world
Kathi Kellenberger
our own sql fool, Michelle Ufford
Denise McInerney, Sharon Dooley
Here to educate and inspire me, Jessica Moss an MVP!
Program chair Lynda Rab
So index and defrag
Write it up for SQLMag
Amy Lewis, sing along!

All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies
All the SQL Ladies

Now put your hands up
wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
wo oh oh!

Back to Blogging - What is your Quick Escape?

I just attended a great session from Steve Jones (@way0utwet) regarding blogging during the 24 Hours of PASS. Thanks to his inspiration I have made a new commitment to blogging!

As I'm writing, I'm about to head off to my weekly Yoga session. I think it's great that my office offers FREE yoga once per week for anyone who wants to show up. Only being once per week, you may think "what good is that?" You may be surprised to hear that several of us look forward to it so much, we are already talking about it on Monday each week. It's just a few minutes to unwind, and let your mind focus on nothing but YOU. Turns out, it's an amazing tool to increase productivity for the remainder of the week.

Hopefully, there is something in your week, or maybe each day, which allows you a few moments for complete introspection and peace.

I'll check back next week with a more technically minded topic. Until then - have a great Holiday weekend!


Steve's SQL Server Central blog is HERE.