Sometimes, I really regret giving up on being a programmer/engineer. I started UCLA as a Computer Science and Engineering major, but dropped out after a semester to transition to Math, then eventualy to a double major in Math and Sociology.
Along the way, I ended up taking some basic programming classes – I did fairly well in C++ and studied MatLab in a few of my math classes. But in the end, I don’t have the programming background to really get a computer type job. It’s only know that I’m four years out of college that I’m realizing how useful a programming background could be, especially with the types of things I enjoy doing.
I love doing web design, which is not programming, but could take bits of code, such as PERL or Javascript.
I want to get involved more in interactive design, user interfaces, etc. I’m trying to learn Ruby on Rails and PHP.
It’s just really time consuming, to do those things along with everything else I’m doing with my life.
It’s terrible to think that there is a whole generation of kids who are excited and willing to join the military to fly the latest plane or man the newest drone – but they can’t program them to save their lives. It feels like a consequence of the digital age – though we are surrounded by new technology, we are not really aware of the inner workings of it. We take things for face value.
Source: Why Johnny Can’t Program: A New Medium Requires A New Literacy