I've hit a rough patch in my programming journey and need some advice. I was excited to become a programmer back in high school and even received a scholarship for computer science at a great university, but I let myself down. Once I started university in 2016, I slacked off, failed many classes, lost my scholarship, and erred my way through mostly by cheating. Though I picked up some skills in C, Java, and web development, I feel my five years in university were wasted.
I managed to land a four-month internship at a big bank during my third year thanks to a family connection, but honestly, I didn't learn much and mostly just handled basic tasks. After graduating, I initially shifted my focus to music production for a couple of years, realizing I wasn't any better at that than programming, leading me back to coding.
I enrolled in a web development bootcamp and got familiar with JavaScript and React, but I switched back to Angular when I saw more job opportunities there. Currently, I'm at an unpaid startup position as an Angular frontend developer. However, I mostly relied on AI for heavy lifting and feel I can't do backend tasks like wiring API endpoints without assistance.
Now, I work as a quality engineer at another big bank, primarily doing manual testing, while my boss encourages me to automate these tests. The problem? I don't know how to automate anything! I'm eager to transition to a full-stack developer role and earn a six-figure salary, which I believe I'm capable of. Lately, I've started learning Java Spring Boot, thinking it might open new doors for me. Yet, the world of programming feels overwhelmingly vast with so many technologies like Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS to learn.
I recognize my current hurdles relate to my past laziness, and I'm aware that just posting here won't fix anything. I genuinely need practical advice to climb out of this rut I've created for myself.
4 Answers
It sounds like you're really struggling with motivation and discipline here. If you're not taking the time to learn automation techniques, which are crucial in this field, it’s going to be tough to break into big tech. You seem to want the title and paycheck without putting in the necessary work, and that approach likely won’t get you far. It might be worth reconsidering how committed you really are to programming, especially if it feels like you're only in it for the money.
You’ve had some good opportunities handed to you, but it feels like you didn’t take them seriously. Wanting to be a full-stack dev without knowing how to automate manual tests? That’s a big red flag. If you don’t love programming in itself, you might just hit a wall when it comes to pushing through the harder parts of software development. Maybe take a step back and evaluate if coding is really your passion or just a means to an end.
You need to prioritize your learning! List out what you need to grasp, starting with automated testing, then Spring Boot, followed by whatever else comes next. Tackle it step by step; this isn’t about rushing but about building a solid foundation. Focus on developing that curiosity and discipline in yourself; that's crucial for a career in tech.
I hear you, but you need to start thinking about your mindset. You mentioned laziness, and it’s critical to change that. If you're not driven to tackle new concepts like automation or even the basics of backend coding, you’ll end up right back where you started. Sometimes, it’s not the technology that's the problem but rather your approach and willingness to evolve. Consider seeking mentorship to help push through your challenges.
Related Questions
How To: Running Codex CLI on Windows with Azure OpenAI
Set Wordpress Featured Image Using Javascript
How To Fix PHP Random Being The Same
Why no WebP Support with Wordpress
Replace Wordpress Cron With Linux Cron
Customize Yoast Canonical URL Programmatically