I've just finished a six-month internship after earning my associate degree in web and Android development, and to be honest, it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I often felt completely lost—my senior would explain things to me, but I'd struggle to keep up. There were times when I could grasp the concept but couldn't fix my mistakes, which led him to literally spell out solutions for me, letter by letter. I always perceived myself as 'slow' in learning, but I really gave it my all. I'm starting to wonder if maybe I just don't have what it takes for this field. When smart people discuss project ideas, I often feel overwhelmed and have to ask them to repeat themselves multiple times. Even during my internship, my senior had to explain things ten times before I half-understood. It took months for me to grasp what was really going on with the project. Should I just throw in the towel now?
5 Answers
Hey, you're not alone in this! I went through something similar during my internship where I felt completely lost. It's tough when you're not given enough guidance. Just remember, everyone learns differently, and sometimes it takes a bit longer to connect the dots. Stick with it; things will start to come together!
You make a good point. Sometimes the responsibility lies with the mentor. They should help rather than just throw information at you.
It sounds like you’re experiencing a mindset shift. Learning anything, especially programming, involves understanding more complex ideas over time. Don’t be discouraged if it takes longer for some things to click. Keep practicing and building projects, and over time, your understanding will deepen. You’re not stupid; you’re just learning!
This is super common, so don’t feel too down about it. Even with a solid education, many of us get thrown into real-world scenarios that feel overwhelming. It can take a while before everything starts to make sense. Just keep pushing through—experience will help you improve!
This gives me hope too! I can relate so much to what you're saying. Thanks for sharing!
Does it really get easier? I hope to reach that point one day.
Don't be hard on yourself! I’ve got a CS degree and had those same feelings in my early years working. The things you’re learning now will click eventually. To be honest, I still sometimes don’t get what some developers are doing. It’s normal to feel out of your depth as you grow in this field, so just keep at it!
Absolutely not! Just landing that internship shows you're on the right track. A lot of people struggle when they're starting out—persistence is key. Keep pushing yourself to learn, and don’t be discouraged. You're doing great just by being there!
Thanks for sharing that! I'm really desperate for some experience myself, so hearing your story gives me hope. Where did you find your internship?