You know those cool projects you have in mind? There's no major rush. In ten years you might look back and wish you'd been slow and steady instead of racing imaginary deadlines.
Also nobody is going to care about what your major was in college so take whatever classes you feel like.
Also don't cheap out on your housing situation. I know you're broke but you'll save a lot of stress by taking out more student loans and having a stable living situation and good roommates.
Ben, I agree with everything you said, except the part "save a lot of stress by taking out more student loans and having a stable living situation". What you actually meant by that?
Software Developer who works mostly on Web stuff. I like JS, but I also like other things. I also do photography, and look at sneakers online that I will never be able to buy.
"Play less MapleStory" is what I usually joke about when I'm asked that haha.
But in reality, I'd probably tell myself to read a bit more about software development, that I know I will like it. And to follow that enjoyment that I have for photography, because I know that he will enjoy it for a long time!
I've played different games, usually MMORPG. I don't really regret this, I didn't learn much about development while playing them, however I have quite an ok English thanks to games, I've learned a way to easily communicate and trust people that I've never seen nor probably will and that helps a lot now. Lots of organization skills.
Software Developer who works mostly on Web stuff. I like JS, but I also like other things. I also do photography, and look at sneakers online that I will never be able to buy.
Software Developer who works mostly on Web stuff. I like JS, but I also like other things. I also do photography, and look at sneakers online that I will never be able to buy.
Hard to say if I would be happy being farther along, but I think so. At least for me, I have regrets on how much time I spent playing video games. I really think they're best as a hobby as opposed to something I spend all my time doing.
Computer Geek, SharePoint MadHatter, devOps Champion, Automation Fan, PowerShell Player and sometimes I write Blog Stuff. I know GeekFu and TechNinja. Passionate about software delivery, devOps, agile
No, you don't need a special kind of brain to learn something. There are no limits to what you can learn. You set the limits of what you can do. You will struggle, you will feel out of place, but once you realise that everything can be learned, you'll be invincible.
That's what I would tell myself. I wish I realised this simple truth a bit earlier. It opened my eyes to a number of possibilities that I wouldn't even dream about before.
I’m Erhan Kılıç, a curious web developer from Turkey who loves to write software applications and websites.
I have been working as a web developer since 2013.
Now seriously, I would say to pay more attention to how we can work using computers, because back then, I was 10 yo and had no idea what to do, knowing this could help tracing the path better I suppose.
But I really like the position I'm now and I plan to evolve a lot more.
Hey there, After a few years of making this account, I think it's time I start properly using it.
So, I am Hannan, a software developer, interested in web, javascript and more
It all depends, taking out more student loans for conspicuous consumption , wasting money on useless stuff you don't need and being very poor at personal finances can hurt you since that money could have been saved, without really losing any thing.
But, here you are making a good trade off, less stress means you could focus more on your studies and even work more, since happiness and positive mindset boosts productivity and I can say this from my experience, it's all about the people around you, so If you have good roommates and stable lifestyle it can be very beneficial for you. It's really just common sense if you think about it.
Don't go to that private school which offered you little/no financial aide. Go to that satellite campus of that state school that your parents both work for. The school is a well respected name in STEM and most of what you learn will be self taught anyway.
You are not destined to be a unorganized and unreliable person. Productivity and organization is a learned skill that pays some of the highest dividends of all the skills in existence.
Ten years a go I was in college (if you call university college I'm talking about the thing before college), and here's what I'd say
Start reading books (audio books). Do not read the titles you heard, there are book out there that will punch you in the guts and kick you in the nuts and make you coming back for more. Books that will brighten your inner world, read those. Hey read Howl by Allen Ginsberg :)
learn web development, just for fun, I think you'll like it
Go do university (of course - with your worldview there's not a single reason not to) but take next year off. Do that reading and that web design stuff (don't tell mum I told you so, even I wouldn't believe you)
You want to be a programmer, but go to uni for something else. Heck, go for English Lit, why the hell not.
Most importantly though, relax and do whatever you like, cos I got your back :)
"Get a job as a junior software developer in C++ or Java, keep on grinding CL as exercise and stick to software-lab.de/picoLisp.tgz in your free time. Don't bother with the rest, and before you know it you'll be chugging along fast in CL outputting C++/Java even faster.
You'll be thanking me in just a few years time, as will your future wife a few years after that, and you can do whatever you like at uni sometime later and not worry about either student debt or grades."
I would tell myself, surprise, you actually have the most discretionary money right now you're probably ever going to have. Stop spending it on guitars and restaurants and put more away in tax-deferred investment accounts. Get an emergency fund and grow a home down payment. The Seattle housing market is going to go insane even though its dead right now. Brace yourself for San Francisco levels of home prices.
"It only looks scary because you don't understand it yet, but I promise you when you do, you'll love it and be able to do things you never thought you could!"
I don't think I would say anything. I was in middle school, failing all of my classes. Wouldn't start doing well until grade 9. If I knew how good things would get, I wouldn't have put in the effort that I did to get to where I am now.
In my mind though, I would be thinking, "Holy sh*t buddy. Buckle up, the adventure you're about to have, you're not going to believe in a million years."
I got made redundant during the financial crisis of 2008 as the company decided to downsize the team I was in. Found a new (rather low paying) job after about 9 months, then I got made redundant from that place after a year and a half as the whole company closed down.
This really hurt me financially as in my country the government makes you use up any savings before you can get the unemployment benefit (welfare). I had a nice nest egg of savings at the time, almost enough to put a deposit on a house, but all that was used up surviving during that time.
If I could go back 10 years I would tell myself to leave the first company I got made redundant from before all that happened. I would like to think this would have meant I was not unemployed for 9 months or made redundant a second time, so would still have had those savings, and as such would actually own my own house now rather than renting.
House prices have increased significantly in my country over the last 6 years, so not only was it a good time to buy back then, its been difficult to catch up financially to a point where buying a house is a realistic possibility. Gladly I think I am just about there; about another year of savings should allow me to purchase a small 2-bedroom place.
Born and raised in Montana. I love drawing and technology. I lost my job in home construction due to the economic downturn. It was then that I realized I loved to code.
Health is important than anything else. Learn from others' mistakes. New year resolutions related to health don't work. Just run everyday at least for 30 minutes. Everything else will happen.
You know those cool projects you have in mind? There's no major rush. In ten years you might look back and wish you'd been slow and steady instead of racing imaginary deadlines.
Also nobody is going to care about what your major was in college so take whatever classes you feel like.
Also don't cheap out on your housing situation. I know you're broke but you'll save a lot of stress by taking out more student loans and having a stable living situation and good roommates.
Ben, I agree with everything you said, except the part "save a lot of stress by taking out more student loans and having a stable living situation". What you actually meant by that?
The Internet never forgets, so be kind.
Also. Can't miss a chance to show off one of my funnier tweets:
Work less but smarter, learn/do one thing at the time.
"Play less MapleStory" is what I usually joke about when I'm asked that haha.
But in reality, I'd probably tell myself to read a bit more about software development, that I know I will like it. And to follow that enjoyment that I have for photography, because I know that he will enjoy it for a long time!
You played MapleStory too! Ha small world, while I can see the sentiment I also raise you this
I've played different games, usually MMORPG. I don't really regret this, I didn't learn much about development while playing them, however I have quite an ok English thanks to games, I've learned a way to easily communicate and trust people that I've never seen nor probably will and that helps a lot now. Lots of organization skills.
So my two cents.
I can definitely see the value of learning a language via videogames and other kind of media - it's pretty much the way I learned English as well.
Hah, I swear if I played a whole lot less video games I would be much farther along than I am now.
But would you be as happy tho?
Hard to say if I would be happy being farther along, but I think so. At least for me, I have regrets on how much time I spent playing video games. I really think they're best as a hobby as opposed to something I spend all my time doing.
Like @fnh said below though:
Well, hindsight is 20/20, but the gist would be: Your time and your health are extremly precious, act accordingly.
This is similar to what I would say to myself; keep the fitness up, eat well, look after yourself.
Don't go to school, just start coding now !!! Its 10 years waste of time .
bold... Yet I agree.
Its the reality , why study mechanical engineering to end up a Software developer right ?
Ignore the next few girls coming to your life.
hahahaha
"Don't follow mainstream technologies, instead search an elegant answer to your problems"
It's not because "everyone" is using a tool that it's the best tool available for your job. (Insert a random joke about Java, PHP or Whatever).
"Oh! And don't be afraid by Maths, it's not so horrible!"
Buy as much BitCoin as you can, sell it at the end of 2017.
I'd appear, yell: REGRET NOTHING, YOU ARE DOING GREAT AND THINGS WILL WORK OUT BEAUTIFUL! And disappear again.
No, you don't need a special kind of brain to learn something. There are no limits to what you can learn. You set the limits of what you can do. You will struggle, you will feel out of place, but once you realise that everything can be learned, you'll be invincible.
That's what I would tell myself. I wish I realised this simple truth a bit earlier. It opened my eyes to a number of possibilities that I wouldn't even dream about before.
Buy lots of bitcoins.
"Dude, spend more time on Math, Algorithm, you gonna need it someday"
Well, this is actually what my dad told me at the time, but I never listened to him :( :D
START USING THE FUCKING COMPUTER TO MAKE MONEY
Now seriously, I would say to pay more attention to how we can work using computers, because back then, I was 10 yo and had no idea what to do, knowing this could help tracing the path better I suppose.
But I really like the position I'm now and I plan to evolve a lot more.
Build and build and build some more!
I know math is hard but you have to learn it.
Get out of the house. Live somewhere you can realize your full potential.
Nobody is ever perfect, but you can get better everyday.
It all depends, taking out more student loans for conspicuous consumption , wasting money on useless stuff you don't need and being very poor at personal finances can hurt you since that money could have been saved, without really losing any thing.
But, here you are making a good trade off, less stress means you could focus more on your studies and even work more, since happiness and positive mindset boosts productivity and I can say this from my experience, it's all about the people around you, so If you have good roommates and stable lifestyle it can be very beneficial for you. It's really just common sense if you think about it.
I guess I'd tell myself "Do not be lazy".
I'd say "I'll be a programmer" again.
Don't go to that private school which offered you little/no financial aide. Go to that satellite campus of that state school that your parents both work for. The school is a well respected name in STEM and most of what you learn will be self taught anyway.
You are not destined to be a unorganized and unreliable person. Productivity and organization is a learned skill that pays some of the highest dividends of all the skills in existence.
10 years ago I was at the university and was working part-time as a web-developer.
Exercise..
Ten years a go I was in college (if you call university college I'm talking about the thing before college), and here's what I'd say
Most importantly though, relax and do whatever you like, cos I got your back :)
"Get a job as a junior software developer in C++ or Java, keep on grinding CL as exercise and stick to software-lab.de/picoLisp.tgz in your free time. Don't bother with the rest, and before you know it you'll be chugging along fast in CL outputting C++/Java even faster.
You'll be thanking me in just a few years time, as will your future wife a few years after that, and you can do whatever you like at uni sometime later and not worry about either student debt or grades."
I would tell myself, surprise, you actually have the most discretionary money right now you're probably ever going to have. Stop spending it on guitars and restaurants and put more away in tax-deferred investment accounts. Get an emergency fund and grow a home down payment. The Seattle housing market is going to go insane even though its dead right now. Brace yourself for San Francisco levels of home prices.
Write more code :)
"It only looks scary because you don't understand it yet, but I promise you when you do, you'll love it and be able to do things you never thought you could!"
I don't think I would say anything. I was in middle school, failing all of my classes. Wouldn't start doing well until grade 9. If I knew how good things would get, I wouldn't have put in the effort that I did to get to where I am now.
In my mind though, I would be thinking, "Holy sh*t buddy. Buckle up, the adventure you're about to have, you're not going to believe in a million years."
“Major in computer engineering”
believe in yourself
Read More !
Invest early !
I got made redundant during the financial crisis of 2008 as the company decided to downsize the team I was in. Found a new (rather low paying) job after about 9 months, then I got made redundant from that place after a year and a half as the whole company closed down.
This really hurt me financially as in my country the government makes you use up any savings before you can get the unemployment benefit (welfare). I had a nice nest egg of savings at the time, almost enough to put a deposit on a house, but all that was used up surviving during that time.
If I could go back 10 years I would tell myself to leave the first company I got made redundant from before all that happened. I would like to think this would have meant I was not unemployed for 9 months or made redundant a second time, so would still have had those savings, and as such would actually own my own house now rather than renting.
House prices have increased significantly in my country over the last 6 years, so not only was it a good time to buy back then, its been difficult to catch up financially to a point where buying a house is a realistic possibility. Gladly I think I am just about there; about another year of savings should allow me to purchase a small 2-bedroom place.
To start open source development now, it's awesome and you'll love it.
work harder in school. embrace web development
"Don't bother with construction management, open your eyes, you have a knack for computers! Also, say goodbye to great music 😢"
"Don't leave her"
Invest on bitcoin now!. and sell when reach to 17 K. and invert a part of the money on fund a start up.
Dont be afraid, things will get better. So take that keyboard and learn some cool stuff, write a lot, learn everything!
Life only gets better.
Lean in to the difficult things, don’t turn away. You’ll like everything a lot better that way. And that applies to programming problems as well
ObjectOriented programming isn't as hard as you think it is.
Take the blue pill
Go to the college that offers the longer more general software engineering degree instead of the specialized one.
Health is important than anything else. Learn from others' mistakes. New year resolutions related to health don't work. Just run everyday at least for 30 minutes. Everything else will happen.
All will be fine do as you think is best
Take more risks. Chase professional satisfaction instead of money. Network more. Teach more.
No, you won't be a student for the rest of your life.