I'm in my first year of college as a computer science major, and I'm enjoying programming because I'm curious about how things are created. However, after my first month of classes, I'm already feeling discouraged. Our assignments currently involve Python Turtle graphics, drawing shapes, and working with ideas like randomly generated circles or "bubbles." I recognize some of the syntax and commands, but when I read an assignment, I often have no idea how to begin solving it. Is this normal so early in a programming course? How can I improve my problem-solving skills and start making meaningful progress?
4 Answers
Don’t expect to master programming after a month. Keep practicing outside class, review examples, ask specific questions during office hours or study sessions, and make sure you understand why each line works rather than only copying it. You are learning both Python and a new way of thinking, so steady progress matters more than immediate results.
Before writing code, describe the solution in plain language or sketch it on paper. For a Turtle assignment, you might list the steps as: choose a position, choose a size and color, draw one circle, move to a new position, and repeat. You can also use a flowchart or several small helper functions. Large programs are usually built by combining small pieces that have already been tested.
Give yourself permission to try imperfect solutions. Start with the simplest approach you can think of, run it, and observe what happens. Add print statements or other temporary checks to see which parts are working, then narrow down the problem. Trying several approaches is part of learning, not evidence that you’re bad at programming.
That’s completely normal. One month is barely any time in programming, and problem solving is a separate skill from memorizing syntax. Start by breaking each assignment into extremely small steps: create a variable, test one calculation, draw one circle, or print one result. Once each small piece works, combine them. The ability to see the larger solution develops gradually through practice.
Feeling stuck in front of a blank editor is very common during the first year. Don’t judge yourself by whether you can solve the whole assignment immediately; focus on finding the next tiny step.
It also helps to keep working even when you feel defeated. You may not finish every assignment perfectly, but each attempt teaches you how to recognize and handle problems next time.