I'm 19 and living in Morocco, and I feel completely uncertain about my future. I originally wanted to study programming but was rejected from the program I applied to, and I've also been turned down by several general university programs. My uncle recently suggested programming to my father, who found a private programming school costing about 1,500–2,000 MAD per month, which is a significant expense for my family.
The problem is that I'm no longer sure programming is right for me. I know it can be difficult, the entry-level market is competitive, and I'm worried about spending a lot of time and money only to discover that I'm not capable of finding work afterward. I'm also considering bakery or pastry training, but I don't feel strongly passionate about that either. It feels like I'm choosing between uncertain options rather than following a clear goal.
For people working in software development: If you were 19 with no programming experience, would you still choose this career? How hard is it realistically to get a first job, how important is a university degree, and is private training worth the cost compared with self-study? Can someone build a decent career without being deeply passionate about programming? I'm looking for practical advice rather than generic encouragement, including perspectives from people who regret choosing the field.
4 Answers
Self-teaching can work, but it requires considerable discipline and the ability to plan your own learning. A school may provide structure and feedback, but it cannot guarantee employment. Try building one or two small projects first, compare that experience with bakery or other vocational training, and make the decision based on the type of daily work you can realistically tolerate. You don’t have to identify your perfect career at 19; you do need to test options cheaply before making a major financial commitment.
Programming is still a viable field, but it isn’t an easy fallback career. Entry-level hiring is competitive, and AI tools are changing the work rather than eliminating the need for people who understand software, testing, and problem-solving. You don’t need lifelong passion, but you do need enough interest and discipline to keep learning for years. If you can’t imagine spending much of your working day doing this, investigate other vocational options seriously instead of choosing programming only because someone else recommended it.
A degree can still open doors, especially for a first job, but it isn’t the only route. Strong fundamentals, practical projects, and a portfolio matter too. The first job is usually the hardest part, and the difficulty depends heavily on the local market, so speak with developers or employers in Morocco rather than relying only on international opinions. A private school is worth considering only if it provides serious instruction, projects, career support, and verifiable employment outcomes—not merely a certificate.
Before paying for a course, get some direct experience with programming. Try a free, structured curriculum for a few weeks and pay attention to whether you can tolerate debugging, repetition, and problem-solving—not just whether you enjoy watching lessons. If you strongly dislike the work, you’ve avoided a costly mistake. Treat it like a trade you’re evaluating, not a passion you’re required to discover.
A school being officially recognized doesn’t automatically mean its teaching or job placement is good. Ask for the curriculum, instructor experience, graduate outcomes, and whether you can attend a trial class before committing.