I'm a high school senior planning to study Computer Engineering next year. I've got a solid beginning to intermediate foundation in Python and web development, plus I've worked on several small projects like calculators and quiz games, and even built a Discord bot with external libraries and APIs following a tutorial. I also won a SwiftUI hackathon! Despite this, I feel like I still have a lot to learn. I'm particularly interested in hardware and network/security engineering. To prepare, I'm setting up a virtual homelab with Windows Server, Windows 11, and Kali Linux to dive deeper into IT. Before heading to college, I want to make the most of my time and build skills, especially since I know I'll be learning C and Java there. What should I focus on next to get ready? I feel like I'm wasting my time sometimes.
6 Answers
Why not start learning the basics of C now? It's a small and relatively straightforward language. All you need is a compiler and a text editor to begin coding.
Don't forget about building your communication skills! Classes in social skills, debate, or even storytelling can help you think creatively and tackle problems from different angles.
Consider building a tool or app that you would find useful in your daily life. Choose an OS and a language you know, and create a framework. Completing an entire application before college would really stand out!
I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet, but I’ll keep it in mind.
If your homelab is on your main PC with VirtualBox or Workstation Pro, try practicing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation techniques. If you’re interested in network security, platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box are amazing for learning about cybersecurity through Capture The Flag challenges.
You're already in a great position! College will cover the low-level programming and network architecture stuff you'll need. Just keep nurturing your curiosity and pursue projects you're passionate about. Staying motivated is way more important than mastering every single skill now!
I appreciate that! I feel a bit lazy sometimes though, especially with school stress. I’m definitely gonna keep working on my programming and homelab project.
Time spent learning is never wasted! Since you're aiming for computer engineering, focusing on C might be really beneficial. It's a lower-level language that helps you understand how computers work, which is essential when dealing with hardware.
That makes sense! I'm a bit intimidated by my Python skills compared to others, but I'm planning to dive into C soon. Sometimes I feel like I'm just wasting time gaming instead of learning.
I've started with some basics on w3schools, but I'm running into some issues setting it up in VSCode. It's been a bit annoying!