Is it just me? Or anybody else are having a hard time with some Python Challenges?

I don't think so. Python course is challenging for me as well. However, in this course author assumes that you make an additional learning and practice/exercises on this topics. What I did (I had problems with Python collections and found the challenges complicated for me), I found the resource with "Python exercises for beginners," and began to solve those exercises one by one. Eventually, I got familiar with different tools, approaches and different tips with arrays, objects, etc. When I came back to the Python challenges here in Treehouse, I had at least general idea how to approach the tasks. And all of sudden I improved further in the course and felt more confident with the learning material. The next part of the course "Object-Oriented Programming in Python" is going to be much more enigmatic than Python collections. Be ready! And I don't think this material can be taught more comprehensively. I've read the documentation and different books... It just takes time to absorb and "digest" new information

I found the python course especially tough! Even with exposure to programming/scripting as a Systems Administrator for a few years. I can honestly tell you that I had to rely heavily on the forums here to solve some of the tougher challenges.

I always made sure I gave it an honest three attempts. Approaching the problem with a different thought process each time. If I couldn't solve it, I would go to the forums and witness some of the most effortless solutions, most of which were one line. Baffling.

It took a lot of willpower to make it through the course and when I would get discouraged, I would digest python in a different medium. Youtube, Books, Etc.

One thing you need to be okay with is NOT understanding everything that's explained in each course.

Just keep going. Some things will click and some things won't. You'll have to revisit the ones that don't for sure.

I've gone through the modules that were tough for me to grasp at least three times, and you know what? I actually get them now.

Being a systems guy, It helped to be exposed to the underpinnings of python. Some of the concepts are really abstract and some of the methods are literally called 'magic' methods. It also helped to listen to someone else explain python concepts. I've linked some of my favorites below. Maybe they'll help you out too.

1. What does it take to become a python expert?
2. Python Tutorials by Corey Schafer
3. It's time to learn Regular Expressions

If I can make it through, so can you. Please feel free to reach out if you need help.

Thanks for the inputs guys. But I just find that it defeats the purpose of enrolling into Treehouse if you have to go out and find the answer in your won and exert more work. If this is the case that I have to go to other avenues to learn, I wouldn't have paid for this online course.