Hey folks! I'm in my second year of an IT degree and really need some advice. I don't see myself as a tech wizard, and I didn't prepare much before diving into this program. My first year was a struggle, just trying to survive, and now, due to personal reasons, I'm stuck with online classes. The way my professor runs things—mostly just uploading modules without live classes—has made things even harder. I've been teaching myself, but it hit me that I've forgotten so much from my first year. I'm basically trying to relearn everything while tackling new subjects like Networking and SQL, alongside C++. It's overwhelming! My progress is super slow compared to others who seem to breeze through. I'm starting to wonder if I'm cut out for this. I want to get good at tech, but my anxiety about not catching up is getting to me. Anyone else felt like they were starting over in their studies? How did you handle the slow progress? I'm looking for tips on managing this workload and shifting my mindset so I can stop feeling like a failure.
5 Answers
Honestly, a lot of people feel behind at some point. The ones who look ahead often just have a better poker face about it! Keep building things—by the time you graduate, it’s your projects and experiences that matter, not what you knew in your second year.
Yeah, that feeling of starting over is common, especially halfway through bigger projects. It’s known as the midpoint slump. If you can push through it, you'll find things will start to click!
You're not exactly starting from scratch. Think of it as rebuilding your foundations, which many people overlook until it's too late. Online learning often highlights these gaps, which can be tough but it’s totally normal. Instead of comparing your progress to others, focus on being consistent. Choose one central language, nail down the basics, and approach other subjects as maintenance rather than mastery for now. Practicing a little every day, rather than cramming, will be way more effective!
If you're teaching yourself through online resources, get comfortable with it—it's a huge part of working in tech. Keeping good notes is also crucial; I've got over 2000 notes in Obsidian that help me out. Remember, don't stress about others who seem to get it easily; you only see their results, not the hours they invested.
You really need to get your hands dirty! Watching YouTube and reading documentation alone isn’t going to cut it. Try building a small project or tackle some coding challenges daily on sites like Codewars. That way, you’ll practice what you learn and solidify those concepts.
Thanks for your insights! It really helps to hear that rebuilding foundations is a part of the journey. I've chosen Java as my main lane now, and I'm trying to apply what I learn right after reading!