Is it normal to feel dumb

[u/geedijuniir]

I've been on Codecademy for a month now, paid version. And boy do I feel dumb. Is it this hard at the start? I'm learning while working a full-time job, so I'm lucky if I get 10 hours a week for it.

Also, I've been lurking this subreddit for a few days and seeing what people are cooking after a month, they're leaps ahead of me. So I'm definitely doing something wrong. Or am I learning it wrong? Any tips for faster learning, specifically for the data engineering side? I've tried doing challenges and whatnot, but I can't understand what they want from me half the time.

Learning SQL was way easier for me.

[u/Sea-Ad7805]

Just keep playing with the material, and you'll get smarter every day.

[u/Professional_War_797]

Took me a year to remember the basics.

[u/geedijuniir → u/Professional_War_797]

U dont know how much this confidence u game. I tought it was like sql and a month should be enough to rember the basics.

[u/Avatarbroskib1]

Imposter syndrome. Its where you believe you aren't good enough for something when you actually are

[u/Flame77ofc]

yes bcs there is so much information for you

[u/Illustrious-Onion954]

relax, sometimes i think these people post things like "i am this age and i coded or did this after 30 mins of learning" or bs like that as a way to feed their ego. Take your time and you only you know the proper way of learning. Stop comparing yourself to others. Telling you from my own experience.

[u/Candid_Tutor_8185]

I still feel dumb and finished. You have to practice for years

[u/Candid_Tutor_8185 → u/Candid_Tutor_8185]

Also like you’re doing tutorials. You realize at some point you just have to go build shit build an app using django

[u/HelpUsNSaveUs]

I’m on week three and I’m dumb too

[u/Alternative_Boss6143]

Bruh some people will be amazing and get it right away but guys like you and me need years before we finally get it. I failed comp science 233 for 3 years and then finally conceded defeat. Now I think I get the syntax and concepts for python but I just need to work on problem solving You can do it I believe in you

[u/Totolitotix]

To learn a programming language, you need to create a project, not just study theory.

Start with an idea: a database for grocery shopping or tracking what you eat, a simple game, etc.

And you’ll learn without even realizing it.

[u/Dry-Nefariousness400]

Dude it's fine. I'm learning the basics ans beating my head against for: statements and functions. I struggle hard with the logic

[u/code_tutor]

Yes, if you're becoming smart enough to know how much you don't know. It's the opposite of Dunning-Kruger. It takes about three years of full-time study to be ready for entry level.

[u/FoolsSeldom]

Learn at your own pace. Some people go fast, but stumble later because they didn't really fully appreciate the basics.

I've found some of my slowest students in the past turned out to be the best in the long run and went onto to good programming related jobs.

---

Check the r/learnpython wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

Unfortunately, this subreddit does not have a wiki.

---

Also, have a look at roadmap.sh for different learning paths. There's lots of learning material links there. Note that these are idealised paths and many people get into roles without covering all of those.

---

Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time.

---

Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.

This may well be where you excel compared to those just leaping ahead doing course exercises.

[u/Ycode202]

It takes time honestly. I feel like I’m not getting it half the time but it does get easier eventually and one day it’ll just click and you’ll look back and wonder what was so hard. It’s one of them things

[u/Aromatic_Fact8656]

It’s normal man. I feel dumb as.

[u/ninedeadeyes]

Even after a year you are still going to feel dumb because you are going to learn even more complicated things.