I'm a 24-year-old studying computer science at a well-known university in my country. I chose this path mainly because my parents pushed for an engineering career, and I thought it was stable and interesting since I like technology. However, I've realized that I don't have clear goals or aspirations in life. My academic performance has been decent, but I'm currently struggling as the courses are getting tougher. Uni hasn't provided much support, and I often deal with anxiety which leads me to abandon tasks midway.
Here's what I know so far:
- Java: Basic skills, created a project but didn't share it on GitHub.
- C++: Know the basics but need to dive deeper.
- C#: Basic knowledge, made a project that's on GitHub—someone even starred it, which surprised me!
- Python: Currently learning to build a web scraper.
- Git: Familiar with push, pull, merge commands.
- SQL: Enjoy writing basic queries.
Unfortunately, I've started several projects and quit mid-way, like a C# project that I felt was too UI-dependent and learning Spring Boot only up to dependency injection. My parents are investing a lot in my education, and I fear I might disappoint them if I don't land a job after graduation, which is a year away. The tech industry isn't very big in my country, and while my friends and cousins are thriving, I feel stuck. My parents suggested I consider taking the GRE, but I'm unsure if I'm smart enough for that. Am I in trouble? What should I do?
3 Answers
Honestly, the reality is that the job market is changing fast due to AI. Finding your own niche or entrepreneurial angle is crucial if you want to stand out. Think about what you want to develop and how you can make it innovative to secure opportunities in the future.
Don't sweat it! Programming alone can feel pointless if you don't have a clear direction. Try to couple programming with another field like cloud computing or networking. Learning tools like Terraform and Ansible can make your skills more valuable. It's all about finding purpose in your coding. What do you enjoy combining with programming?
Thanks for the suggestion! I hadn’t thought about combining it with something else. I'll definitely explore cloud technologies.
Focus first on finishing your degree. Many people don't end up working in the field their degree was in, and that's okay. It's more about gaining experience. Consider what brings you fulfillment beyond programming. It's really about finding what drives you.
That makes sense! I guess I need to explore more how I can use AI or other tech creatively.