What Skills Should I Focus on as a CS Student to Succeed?

Definitely focus on figuring out which area of software excites you the most, whether it’s frontend, backend, mobile apps, or something else. Once you know that, start working on projects! Begin with simpler tasks and then gradually take on more challenging ones. Be sure to publish your work, like having a public GitHub repository, and make it a point to actually finish what you start.

Learning from your mistakes is key. Don’t be afraid to mess things up; every failure is a chance to grow and gain insights. Embrace those fuckups—they're part of the journey!

Don't underestimate the importance of version control systems like Git! Back when I was in school, it wasn’t a commonly taught topic, but it’s vital in the real world. Make sure you learn Git; it will make working on projects with others so much easier.

Learning how to learn is crucial. In programming, you'll constantly need to adapt and pick up new skills, so mastering this skill will help you not just in school but throughout your career. Focus on learning how to research, debug, and read documentation quickly—these are essential skills in tech.

One of the best ways to learn is by building your own projects. Start by creating a website or any project that interests you. It doesn’t have to be perfect—what matters is you learn how to plan, build, and troubleshoot your project. This hands-on experience will make you more appealing to future employers since you'll have a portfolio to show off your skills.