Hey everyone! I'm feeling a bit lost and could really use some friendly advice. I'm studying bioinformatics, and I need to get through my C++ and Python (Data Structures) courses to graduate. For me, programming has always been the toughest part of my degree. I only started my first programming class after switching to this university from medical studies, and it was super intense. I kept hitting roadblocks because of unfamiliar concepts and my struggle with the language. Now, every time I sit down to look at my course materials, the anxiety creeps in, and I think, 'I failed this before; I'll fail again.' Most of my progress has come from the more approachable courses and retaking what I did poorly on, which isn't the best long-term plan.
I enjoy application-focused courses like Data Visualization, but when it's about the core syntax and foundational language skills, I freeze up. It feels like I'm wasting my study efforts just trying to overcome my fear of programming. I've heard people say, 'pick a project idea and learn,' but I've gotten too comfortable with Python, and switching to C++ seems daunting. I feel like I can't even jump into a project until I grasp the basics of C++. What I really want are beginner-friendly routines—small daily or weekly practices, habits, or study strategies that helped you when you were learning a new programming language. Honestly, I'm trying to overcome the belief that I'm 'too much of a bio/med' person to ever be good at programming. If you've been in a similar situation, I'd love to hear your stories about how you pushed through and found some joy in programming. Admitting this is a bit embarrassing, especially after two years in informatics. I just don't want to waste another year feeling stuck!
4 Answers
I totally get how you're feeling—you might feel like you should be further along than you are, but that's just adding more pressure on yourself. Learning C++ after Python is indeed a challenge because it’s much more complex, but don’t let fear get the best of you! Remember, it's okay to feel like you're taking your time. Just keep telling yourself, 'I might not get this immediately, but I’ll work through it at my own pace.' Slow and steady really does win the race!
Practice is the key! Just reading your textbooks or completing minimal assignments won’t help you improve much. Try to come up with a meaningful project or app you want to build, and put in the work to develop it. That’s going to push you to learn more and become comfortable with coding.
A lot of people experience challenges when learning programming, so you're definitely not alone! Programming is kind of like mixing art with problem-solving; you've got to enjoy both aspects. It's really important to shift your mindset. Everyone fails at things; it's part of learning. So, embrace that!
Start with small, manageable goals. For example, if you're tasked with creating a 3D graph, break it down. Step one: learn how to read a file with your data. Step two: display one number from that file. Build on your successes one small step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
You'll be able to grasp C++ just fine since you have a foundation in Python! Consider enrolling in a beginner course to refresh your skills. If you already understand concepts like variables, types, and functions, you're ahead of the game. Each time you learn a new concept, try writing little programs to apply what you’ve learned — think of a mini-challenge related to the new topic and tackle it!
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