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Jason Pallone
895 PointsIs it normal to struggle with python at first?
I've never coded anything ever, python was my first entry into anything to do with code and programming I'm completely new. I'm learning and I understand 85% or so of what I've learned so far, but I'm getting confused sometimes easily, discouraged too. Because I'll understand most of what I learn, but I get confused at times and I feel like it might be simple stuff? Is this normal to struggle with learning python at first? I'm about to finish python basics, it went over a fair amount of stuff. But towards the end I'm a little worried that I'm struggling. The found = true and then below found = false then if found: that is some of the stuff confusing me. Like found is true then false then in a if function. I'm not really asking for a explaination I'm just wondering if this normal stuff to struggle with at first or if I'm just dumb lol. I might have asked this question before, but it is something that came across my mind heavily today, I want to be a web developer I just don't know if struggling like this is normal or not.
4 Answers
Riki Montgomery
9,803 PointsJason,
It is very normal to struggle with coding concepts at first. I highly encourage you to power through it and keep practicing. Measure success by what you know today compared to yesterday. If you learn even a little tiny bit each day, then you are on the right track. I just graduated from code school having no prior exposure to coding concepts. I am now 25 or so weeks into a new Junior Developer career and loving it. I learn new things everyday, but there's still a lot I don't know. The best programmers usually have no clue what they're doing when they start something new, but they rely on their experience and creativity to find the answers as they go. That's the nature of being a developer. And that's why coding every day is going to make you a great developer. If you get stuck on something in the python course at Treehouse, I recommend googling it or searching youtube for a different explanation. Sometimes hearing it in a new way will help you understand it. There are so many things I didn't understand at first, but as I built larger and larger applications on my own, those concepts would suddenly click for me. Seeing how they interacted and affected other things I was working on, really helped me understand what they were doing.
I hope that helps a little bit. I also recommend looking up the definition of imposter syndrome, because you have it. I have it too. Just keep pushing forward.
Alexander Davison
65,469 PointsI don't blame you. You're doing wonderfully; I wouldn't worry. Everybody (including myself) struggles when first learning. Eventually you'll get it. Also note that—in my opinion—that Kenneth Love teaches things at a very fast pace (no offense Kenneth: teaching quickly helps you learn more, well, quickly 
Have fun coding!
Jason Pallone
895 PointsThank you!
Steven Parker
230,274 PointsA bit of struggle is common when you're learning something new, and programming introduces many new concepts if you've never done any before.
You might enjoy this episode of the Treehouse Show that discusses learning issues and solutions (including a few suggestions by me!). And if you have access to the bonus material, there's a series of videos called Learn how to Learn you might find useful.
Jason Pallone
895 PointsThank you!!
Michael King
62 PointsHi Jason, Yup, been there done that. At first it is fun, and then comes the difficult/confusing bits, and then comes the 'is this how the rest of the tutorial going to feel like?', and then you'll feel down. But fear not, as there are so many resources out there that helps you get through it. There are people out there who are brilliant at explaining complex topics into easy to understand smaller chunks. Once you found that one video that does really well in explaining and you finally get it and thats your 'AHA moment!' that people trying to learn programming are lucky enough to go through :)
Jason Pallone
895 PointsJason Pallone
895 PointsThank very much !!