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For discussing anything related to a software developer's life but is not for programming questions. Got a programming question?

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GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 1493685315-Nov-20 7:55
User 1493685315-Nov-20 7:55 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Nelek15-Nov-20 8:00
protectorNelek15-Nov-20 8:00 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
dandy727-Nov-20 2:45
dandy727-Nov-20 2:45 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:01
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:01 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
dandy7217-Nov-20 16:10
dandy7217-Nov-20 16:10 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
David O'Neil6-Nov-20 14:37
professionalDavid O'Neil6-Nov-20 14:37 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Greg Utas7-Nov-20 2:04
professionalGreg Utas7-Nov-20 2:04 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Fabio Franco8-Nov-20 22:29
professionalFabio Franco8-Nov-20 22:29 
Well, I read you describe yourself and it seem like you're describing me.

Let first start by telling you something about doing what we (programmers) do. It's because we love it. It's because we're curious and it's because we love the feeling of accomplishment, almost as if we were performing magic when we make something work for the first time.

Now, if you share some of that sentiment, you're likely on the right direction and on the right path, everything else is learned, including the way of thinking.

I for one, always learned best with books. As you said, doing it at my own pace, with the book open over my lap or desk, while I would try whatever I had just learned. It takes time. Fortunately when I started I had time, I was 14 years old when I read my first book. My first book was from the series "teach yourself in 21 days", which was obviously impossible for me with a book of over 700 pages, doing hands one. It was more likely 21 weeks.

What I also didn't know at the time is that I have ADHD (actually ADD, which is the mostly inattentive version). That said, books were one of the only things that actually captured my attention and focus. But yep, in that sense it also made me a slow learner. I started treating myself for the condition just now, over 20 years later, back then I was completely oblivious of the situation, as a matter of fact, I have spent a lot of my life being oblivious about too many things. Too much time in my head and I am thankful for discovering programming (by accident), which gave me some direction.

When I actually went to university, I already knew so much that I would spend my time in class helping others, rather than learning myself, this let me slide through CS classes quite easily and the prior knowledge removed the pressure to learn all of these subjects at the same time. As I never liked to do homework, I could use my spare time in class to do exercises on subjects I was not very savvy about, like physics and calculus.

So maybe you should ask yourself if it's the right time to do Uni of if you could take it slower. I am not sure about the education system there, but have you considered if you can take less classes at a time? I think this could help you focus and give you room to properly learn stuff. There is no point on rushing through uni if you cannot retain what you're being fed with. It's just a waste of time and money. You should realize what you're experiencing as a red flag and you need to reassess your goals.

I think it's no shame on taking longer in the uni if that's all that's at stake. Having that said, you need to also realize why you don't have time. Do you don't have time because you work full time? If your goal is to learn programming and you learn better with books, then why attending uni in the first place? Of course it has a lot of valuable stuff difficult to get from books, but then, maybe now is not the right moment. A lot of us are self taught anyways. My first formal job as a programmer was before I even started uni. So think about this. Put your logic skills to good use and evaluate your life rather than a computer program.

I hope you figure it out and good luck!

To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems - Homer Simpson


Our heads are round so our thoughts can change direction - Francis Picabia

GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Gerry Schmitz6-Nov-20 13:37
mveGerry Schmitz6-Nov-20 13:37 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 149368536-Nov-20 14:45
User 149368536-Nov-20 14:45 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Gerry Schmitz6-Nov-20 18:25
mveGerry Schmitz6-Nov-20 18:25 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 1493685316-Nov-20 10:39
User 1493685316-Nov-20 10:39 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
OriginalGriff7-Nov-20 1:00
mveOriginalGriff7-Nov-20 1:00 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
BillWoodruff8-Nov-20 20:27
professionalBillWoodruff8-Nov-20 20:27 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Daniel Pfeffer8-Nov-20 22:18
professionalDaniel Pfeffer8-Nov-20 22:18 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Greg Utas9-Nov-20 6:16
professionalGreg Utas9-Nov-20 6:16 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:12
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:12 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
OriginalGriff15-Nov-20 8:13
mveOriginalGriff15-Nov-20 8:13 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
DerekT-P7-Nov-20 5:01
professionalDerekT-P7-Nov-20 5:01 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? PinPopular
kmoorevs7-Nov-20 8:08
kmoorevs7-Nov-20 8:08 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
BillWoodruff8-Nov-20 20:26
professionalBillWoodruff8-Nov-20 20:26 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
kmoorevs10-Nov-20 4:05
kmoorevs10-Nov-20 4:05 
JokeRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Richard Andrew x647-Nov-20 10:47
professionalRichard Andrew x647-Nov-20 10:47 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:12
User 1493685315-Nov-20 8:12 
GeneralRe: Is CS not meant for beginners or do I have severe ADHD? Pin
Jalapeno Bob8-Nov-20 9:51
professionalJalapeno Bob8-Nov-20 9:51 

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