While the Pandora and the Pyra can do both with aplomb, I've seen so many young people who attend University, become bridled with distractions, and lose their focus.
Take every opportunity to learn something new. I don't think the problem is losing focus when the things you are being distracted by are directly related to what you are studying. I believe this is actually called "learning" and "experience".
Ah, but that's the very noose one will hang themselves from. Being related to what you are studying
is not the same as what you are studying. An enticing trap many fall into known by other names such as "resume building" or "taking a break" or "being well-rounded" or "learning something new" or "life lessons" when it's true name is... distraction, the antithesis of focus.
Let me put it another way. If you don't know how to actually do things, saying you took a course on it, or that it was covered in a course, means nothing. In networking certs and experience hold a lot more weight than formal education. Sure, you will probably "need" a degree for some positions, but what employers want is someone that knows their job (exceptions include government entities and contractors that are required to have all employees meet certain regulatory requirements...they prefer people who know their stuff, but the person that meets all requirements on paper will get the position).
Since I don't know what college Spirit is talking about, and I have not talked to the instructors, I can't say for certain if something IS what will be studied. In my courses there is a TON of Linux stuff, and because it is something I learned on my own over the last decade and a half I was in a far better position than others, especially those that took classes out of order (Linux classes are all first year classes, but some people waited and had trouble with assignments that were using Linux).
Depending on the type of networking degree it is there may be some network equipment configuration. Often this requires familiarity with the CLI. This has proven intimidating for many people who this is there first time seeing it, just as it is with Linux. Many people I have discussed this topic with feel that any CLI experience makes you more receptive to how to use one elsewhere, and many things are similar, so you aren't starting from scratch each time. I believe some equipment manufacturers have Linux, or something based on it, running on their hardware. If this is something that will be covered in courses it is far better to be ahead of the game.
Troubleshooting is one of the most important skills for anyone that actually knows what they are doing when it comes to networking. You will often need to find problems and fix them fast. By developing that mindset outside of class it can be directly applied in class, as well as in future endeavors. I am pretty sure things will be smoother with the Pyra than they were early on with the Pandora, but the time spent doing research, and thinking about and finding problems directly relates to networking. In fact, in both formal and informal training, and in evaluating the skills of an individual, it is common to give someone scenarios/equipment/networks that have intentional problems and have the person figure out what the problems are. Even if an individual is setting up a small network on their own a single mistyped character or bad cable will keep it down. Knowing how to go through and look at everything that was done, by you or someone else, to identify errors is crucial. I highly doubt that most problems encountered when using a Pyra will require that sort of devotion from a user, but if so the skills are transferable.
