How Gaming Led Me to Programming

📢 Disclaimer: This is just my personal journey

A Gamer With No Direction 🎮

If you had asked me in school what I wanted to become, I wouldn’t have had an answer. I had no idea about my future. The only thing that truly made me happy was gaming. Whether I was happy or sad, I would spend hours in front of my PC, grinding for 6 to 7 hours straight. That was my life.

I took Computer Science in high school and later went to college for Software Engineering, but to be honest, I was still clueless. I wasn’t passionate about academics, and the education system didn’t really help. It wasn’t inspiring; it was just memorization.

Curiosity Sparked: I Wanted to Build Something 🔥

Did anyone hear about the guy who built RollerCoaster Tycoon all by himself? That blew my mind. Chris Sawyer, the legend, developed the game mostly in assembly language, making it one of the most optimized games of its time.

Despite my confusion, I had a curiosity—I wanted to build something on my own, even if it was complete crap. The idea of creating something from nothing fascinated me. So, I decided to give programming a try.

But there was a problem—I knew nothing about coding. In school, I had studied C/C++, but writing code on your own without guidance was a whole different challenge. I didn’t even know where to start.

With no guidance, I turned to YouTube, and that’s where I found these channel who introduced me to programming:

🔥 Clever Programmer
🔥 Corey Schafer
🔥 thenewboston
🔥 Caleb Curry

These guys changed my life. Thanks to them, programming no longer felt like a boring subject; it became something fun and creative.

The Struggles of Choosing a Language 🤯

At first, I was overwhelmed. There were so many languages—C++, Java, JavaScript, and more. I had no idea which one to focus on.

Then, in my second year of college, I discovered Python 🐍. People called it the best programming language for beginners, and for the first time, programming actually made sense to me.

Python’s simplicity and versatility made learning fun, and it helped me understand Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). I started experimenting with small scripts, automating tasks, and building basic web applications.

Building Small Tools & Gaining Confidence 💡

Once I started learning Python, I got addicted to building things. Here are some of my early projects:

✅ Scraping movie data using BeautifulSoup and Requests
✅ YouTube video downloader
✅ Screen recorder in Python
✅ Fun with Termux – Automating tasks on Android using terminal commands

These weren’t groundbreaking projects, but they gave me confidence. Each time I completed something, I felt like I was leveling up in a game.

My Third Year: Java & The Realization 😩

In my third year, I had to learn Java. I won’t lie—I didn’t like it. Something about Java just didn’t click with me. Maybe it was personal preference, maybe it was the way I learned it. Don’t judge me. 😆

That’s when I realized: It’s okay not to love every language. You don’t have to force yourself to like something just because it’s popular.

The Harsh Reality: Job Rejections 🚪❌

After college, I faced rejection after rejection. More than 40 companies turned me down. I kept applying, improving my skills, and trying again.

It was frustrating, but I didn’t give up. I kept building projects and learning every day. Looking back, those rejections were just stepping stones to where I am now

Breaking Into the Cloud Product Space ☁️

After two years of dedication, I finally landed a job at a cloud product-based company. I played a crucial role in developing several key features for their product. It was an amazing experience—getting paid to do what I loved and working on real-world projects

The Hard Truth: Learn Low-Level Programming ⚠️:

One mistake I made was not learning low-level programming early on. Python is great for beginners, but you can’t stay there forever. It took me five years to realize that understanding low-level concepts like memory management, operating systems, and algorithms is crucial if you want to become a solid developer.

So, if you’re just starting out, don’t skip C, C++, or even Java. It might seem intimidating, but trust me—it will make you a better programmer in the long run.

Final Thoughts: Keep Grinding! 💪

Looking back, my journey wasn’t smooth. I started clueless, struggled, failed, and faced rejection. But I kept grinding.

If you’re just starting out, don’t stress about knowing everything right away. Keep learning, keep building, and trust the process. One day, you’ll look back and realize how far you’ve come. 🚀

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