Am I a Bad Programmer? Should I Quit?

Motivational advice isn't always the best for everyone, especially when it comes to technical skills like programming. If you're questioning whether you should quit coding, let's unpack the issues and provide guidance based on personal enjoyment and potential mental abilities.

Understanding Your Capabilities

I'll share a personal anecdote that might relate to your situation. During my freshman year of university, I made the acquaintance of a fellow Computer Science (CS) major. This friend was known for frequently asking basic questions and demonstrating a lack of understanding. After a few months, he switched to Electrical Engineering (EE) and stuck with it. It's worth noting that the EE curriculum is often considered more challenging than CS, yet he chose to pursue it. This could be a sign that the subject suited his interest and abilities better.

Enjoyment is Key

Even if you can become a decent coder, it's not worth pursuing if you don't enjoy it. Programming is a field you're likely to work in for the majority of your adult life. Would you truly want to spend your life doing something you don't enjoy? Even if it's just a hobby, why would you choose a hobby that doesn't bring you joy? You shouldn't continue to suffer and instead, consider doing something more fulfilling.

Personal Experiences and Advice

I personally have a unique experience with mathematics. In school, I struggled with simple counting, often making mistakes, yet I enjoyed playing around with formulas and understanding mathematical concepts quickly. My solution to this was to seek out more challenging areas where I could leverage my strengths. Just like in school, where right answers were often the goal, failing at basic counting didn't mean I was bad at mathematics but rather at one specific aspect of it.

Focusing on areas where you excel and finding ways to improve in your weaknesses can be a better approach than simply giving up. If you're good at something else and enjoy it, lean into that. If not, it might be time to explore other options.

Reflection on Life Choices and Success

My background as a poor student in math who excelled in other areas eventually led me to entrepreneurship. Being used by classmates as a calculator without realizing it reflects on how we can be impacted by our environment. Growing up in different socio-economic backgrounds can influence our choices and outcomes. Could this be a fair deal of life, or are there better opportunities out there waiting for you?

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision to continue or quit programming should be based on your enjoyment and the areas where you excel. If you enjoy coding and are continually improving, stay the course. If not, consider other paths that align better with your interests and strengths. Programming is a specialized skill that requires dedication, but your happiness and fulfillment should be a top priority.