What should I focus on next as a first-year computer science student?

You don’t have to choose between fundamentals and practical work. Keep following your university material, especially algorithms and Java, while building small projects that reinforce what you’re learning. A simple Java application, data-structure visualizer, or improved version of your game would be more useful than rushing into a large web framework. Once you have a project idea that interests you, Python can be added naturally for scripting or experimentation.

Try not to feel pressured by people who seem to expect advanced knowledge of several languages. University courses often move quickly, but you don’t need to master every language at once. Pick Java as your main language for now, continue practicing algorithms, and use Python casually when it makes a task easier. Consistent practice and completed projects matter more than collecting technologies.

Keep learning computer science concepts, but don’t stay in exercise-only mode for too long. Build something small every few weeks and use each project to practice a new idea: file handling, testing, a database, a simple API, or a basic user interface. The goal isn’t to specialize immediately; it’s to discover what you enjoy while developing the ability to finish and explain working software.

Since Java is already part of your upcoming coursework, getting a head start there is probably the most efficient next step. Java is designed around object-oriented programming and gives you useful practice with classes, interfaces, types, testing, and larger program structure. Python is worth learning too, but you can approach it later or use it for small scripts without making it your main focus right now.