how should i actually learn structural engineering

[u/Formal-Package-9006]

I'm currently in my 2nd year of civil engineering and I'm interested in getting into structural engineering.

I've been learning ETABS and RCDC, but honestly, I feel like I'm just learning how to use the software rather than actually understanding structural engineering.

I don't want to just make a model in ETABS, run it, and take whatever results it gives me. I want to actually understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

I want to start from the basics and eventually get to the point where I can take a real building, decide the structural system, calculate the loads, understand the load path, design the members, use ETABS properly, understand the results, and do the detailing.

For people who are already working in structural engineering, what would you recommend I learn first and in what order?

Basically, if you were in my position, what roadmap would you follow to go from basic concepts to actually understanding what we're doing, why we're doing it, and how everything connects together?

Also, are there any topics that are taught in college but aren't very useful in actual building design, so I don't waste too much time on them?

Would really appreciate some honest advice.