Hey everyone! I'm an Italian high school student who has a strong interest in programming. I've enrolled in a school where we start learning programming in grade 11, but I'm wondering if I should begin learning on my own right now. I find programming super fascinating and I'm excited about the possibilities it could open up for me. But, I worry that if I start now, I might just end up covering the same material later in class. Should I dive into self-learning now or focus on other interests until then?
4 Answers
I began coding at 14, and it really helped when I faced the same material in classes. You won't regret starting early! Plus, you'll pass by the basics quicker in school since you'll already get it. Trust me, dive into it now!
Definitely give it a shot! Figure out if programming is something you really love. Just keep in mind that it can take up a lot of free time, especially if you're balancing school and extracurriculars too. Try a beginner course and stick with it—you might surprise yourself!
If you’re interested, definitely start learning! There are some perks to classroom learning, but getting ahead as a self-learner can pay off big time. You'll tackle cooler projects in class later. Also, check out some online platforms for courses—there's a world of resources out there!
Why wait? Jump in and have some fun with it! Plenty of folks teach themselves programming. Getting started now means you'll be more prepared for class later on, making the whole learning experience smoother. Plus, you can still enjoy other activities while you're at it!

Totally agree! I did something similar, and it helped me compete in programming competitions too, which was amazing. You might find some opportunities like that! In Italy, for example, there’s the ‘Olimpiadi Italiane di Informatica’ which is a cool contest for students.