Can I program

When I was in college, I took an entry level computer science course, something like Java 101. I don't remember what I got, but I think I did OK and I wanted to learn more. So I signed up for the next level class, something like Java 202, which covered things like sorting, data structures and algorithms. I had a much harder time in that course, somehow managed a B-, and decided that computer science wasn't for me.

by  jlwelsh

Later on in life, out of necessity, I began writing some basic shell scripts. Because it made my life easier, I kept at it and began writing some python programs. Since I didn't know any better, I interviewed and got a programming job. To recap, I started as a mediocre computer science student, evolved into a hobby programmer, and now I find myself as a professional programmer.

There is fascinating blog post from Jeff Atwood which suggests that there are people who can learn to program and those that cannot. After my brief computer science forays in school, I would've resigned that I'm one of those people who cannot program. Luckily, I didn't read that article until after I started programming.

Instead, I will go with the advice of Mr. Descartes, who famously said, I think, therefore I am. For me, I program, there I can program.

At least, that's what I said whenever I get a case of Impostor Syndrome.