How I earned my Salesforce Administrator certification at nine

Before the certificate

I was nine when I passed my Salesforce Administrator certification. The certificate is the part that is easy to put in a headline. The story behind it starts with being interested in computers and wanting to understand how things work.

That interest led me to Salesforce and to Trailhead, its learning platform. Through Trailhead, I began learning how Salesforce works. There were new words to understand and a whole platform to get to know.

What is a Salesforce administrator?

Salesforce helps organisations keep track of information and the work they do with customers. An administrator helps set up that system so people can use it properly: organising data, managing access, building reports and making everyday processes work.

Imagine a club trying to keep its member details organised. It needs to know which information to collect, who should be able to see it and how to find useful answers in it. That is one way to picture the kinds of questions an administrator deals with.

From exploring Trailhead to passing the exam

Trailhead was part of my route into learning Salesforce. It offers short learning units and guided paths, including opportunities to practise in a learning environment. That gives someone starting out a place to explore the platform and try things for themselves.

I went on to pass the Salesforce Administrator exam at nine. Learning through Trailhead and earning a professional certification are different things: the certification was a separate milestone in that journey.

If you are interested in the subject, there is no need to begin with an exam in mind. Getting to understand one part of a platform is a useful place to start. A certificate can be a goal, but it does not have to be the first one.

Was I the youngest?

I may have been the world’s youngest Salesforce Certified Administrator when I passed at nine. We haven’t found a younger documented example in the research for this story, but this hasn’t been independently verified.

What I can share is the achievement itself: I earned the certification at nine. That is the milestone I want this story to celebrate.

If you want to explore technology too

Pick a question you would actually like to answer. How does an app keep information organised? How does a report turn a list of numbers into something useful? Starting with a question gives you something concrete to look for.

Use a small example. If you are exploring data, a pretend list of books or club activities can help you think through an idea without using anyone’s personal information. Ask a parent, teacher or another trusted adult to help you choose a suitable place to learn.

And leave room for other interests. I enjoy adventure and mystery books, drawing, crafts and dancing too. Technology is one part of my story, alongside reading, public speaking and the things I do away from a screen. You do not need to choose just one thing to be curious about.