Most of us know that the “second time around” often feels very different from the first — not because it’s easier, but because psychologically and technically we now remember the first struggle. It’s like making your first omelet: the first time it ends up on the floor, but the next time it’s on your plate… even if a bit brown.. Same is with code. The first time you don’t even know what the hell the interface is talking about. You’re stunned with a hundred warnings, your code looks ridiculously small for producing all those error messages, and suddenly your brain goes everywhere: Why am I even doing this? Why aren’t I out taking a hike? The guys could be at the bar right now. Why do I keep clicking (like a maniac) on this damn error message that stays on the same line? Maybe I should have watched that show on TV instead of opening this thing… Check Instagram for a minute… and YouTube… and oh look, a dozen new emails… none of which are “focused”, better delete them… why does this damn thing insist on this error… and who cares about the warning, f it, I mean, it’s just a form! All you ever wanted was a form with those textboxes and three buttons and — oh wait, Shirley wrote you. Oh man… she wrote like an hour ago. Quickly check her out… she might be going to dinner with Kelly — I GET YOU.

I get you.

Don’t jump out. Don’t quit. Everyone – literally, every single one – of us, has passed through this hell of the introduction to the battlefield. You open the IDE and you feel someone tossed you to the cockpit of a Boeing. Take it easy. Baby steps. One step at a time – there’s a reason every journey to a new language starts with the famous “Hello world!”. You were just born. EVERYONE was sitting on the same chair, back in the time was even worst, you got in front of you a green-ish empty screen and a prompt flashing, and it was all about you to breathe life to the machine. Who doesn’t remember “Bad command of file name.”

Keep going. It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be a waste of time either. Unless if you quit and choose to follow Shirley. Or something else who seemed more important that moment. Sit down, and make the first step. And the second, and the third. At the end, there’s light.

Dedicated to all the young souls who their curiosity and love for computing will define their lives.