The blast from the past...

Recently I've decided a change in college majors is probably in order. I was planning on majoring in Actuarial Science but I don't want to be taking exams for 5-10 years after college all for the sake of a six figure salary. My back up choice is Computer Science and I was looking through my old books and resources and I came across this website.

Over six years ago as a junior in high school I tried to learn Java or Python and I didn't end up sticking with it because I was unmotivated. Here I am now as a 23 year old college student going right back to learning Python.

Very interesting reading what the 16 year old version of yourself was thinking/doing. That's all.

This time I need to stick with it or go become a basket weaving major.

The sixteen year old version of myself (in 1984 mind you) was doing some illegal things now and then and writing video games on the original IBM PC. I wanted to pursue a career in video game development. While everyone recognized I was pretty sharp with computers they also realized that video games were a fad and there was no future in pursuing that avenue. So today I am lucky to be a programmer for the HR IT department of a huge diversified financial services company. On the plus side my car is paid for, my son is clothed and fed and I have enough discretionary spending to buy (instead of write) video games.

The biggest mistake you can make is to choose a career for money. It should at least be something you somewhat like. I loved programming, I just wanted with all my heart to avoid the very job I ended up in. It's not bad, actually it's pretty good, but it's not my life's calling. Know what I mean?

Yeah I hear ya man. I don't want to do that with CS either, so for the next few months I'm going to be testing the waters to see if this is something I can get in to. Always loved computers and the tech world so programming seemed the most natural for me. We'll see what happens.

Pretty much doing what I do now. I thought I'd be more on the networking side of things but I guess I'm living the dream as a Sys Admin.

I completely agree with you medialint, one should only do the work he is interested in, otherwise it will all end up in mess, frustration and uncomfortable, and if a man follows his heart and just does a thing he likes, he will enjoy every bit of it because he has a power of love towards the thing he is doing, and this will help him to create new wonders.

I am 48+ now, and started life off as a WAN Wide Area Network Tech, then became a Oracle DBA. I have worked in Beta Test shops over the past 18+ yrs and Linux/Unix/Solaris OS systems. So now in my career I am a Systems Architect, DBA, Project Manager. For databases most of my experience is in Oracle, followed by PostgreSQL, then SQL server 2005, and MySQL. I have also picked up alot of knowledge and experience with Virtualization as well too. I guess one might say I am a cross between a Sys Admin, DBA, Network Tech...with Project Management thrown in. It also has helped that I have worked in Beta Test on the Bleeding Edge for so long as I have had to learn many skill sets that were not really my own to do my job.

So my advice is to obtain as much learning in anything that you enjoy and are good at and keep going with it. Never stop learn and keep growing to increase your overall skill set and abilities. Makes you much more marketable and well rounded skill set.

Broad palette and a willingness to learn, with a side of motivation is what I try to get from CV's - ymmv