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I graduated at the end of 2011, getting a bachelor's degree of comp science and IT, majoring in games programming. 3 years prior, I was given complete freedom by my parents to pursue any sort of university degree, and after doing absolutely no research and all, I decided to take up a course in game programming, since, well, I love video games and made a 5 minute RPG maker game before. That totally makes game programming the perfect fit, right?
Wrong. Towards the end of the 3 year course, I began to realize that perhaps programming wasn't really quite my thing. I ended outright hating the thought of programming of any kind. In fact, despite successfully getting the degree, I felt as if I barely learnt anything at all. I struggled to find a job after that, mainly because I tried really hard to avoid anything programming or IT related.
I finally confessed to my dad that I didn't like programming at all (still love games, tho), which led to a long lecture by him, telling me that I wouldn't know for sure whether I would truly enjoy programming/IT since I've never worked in the field before. I argued that 3 years of uni was enough for me to decide that I don't like it, but he told me that working would be completely different. While he may have a point, I really can't see myself sitting on a desk every day typing out code I don't understand (which is what uni felt like to me). I completely disagree with his argument, but didn't voice it out.
In the end, through some luck and assistance, I managed to land a job as a lowly video editor for a pretty well-known company in my country (I live in SEA btw). It's completely unrelated to what I had studied, but I've done a ton of video-editing as a hobby since way back, so the job is actually pretty easy to me compared to the DotA highlight videos I've done in the past lol. I'd say I sort of like my job, too.
While my dad is happy that I managed to get a job, he still said the same thing in a more recent talk I had with him: I decided too early that I "don't enjoy programming" without actually trying to work in the industry first. He has every right to say that since he paid for my education in full, and of course I feel extremely guilty that I used up a lot of his money to get a degree that I ended up not utilizing... But I mean, if I don't like it, I don't like it, right? I have no passion for writing code and the like! I'm not gonna force myself to work as a software developer or something just to prove a point!
My dad's a doctor, so when I mentioned that I hated my time in uni, his counter-argument was that he didn't enjoy his time studying medicine either, but that didn't stop him from pursuing a career in it. Perhaps this is why he can't see things from my point of view/vice-versa?
And just for those of you who were wondering, I find that I enjoy stuff that require a less technical, but somewhat more creative approach. I struggle to properly describe it, but I associate the word "technical" to stuff like maths and IT, whereas the word "creative" to stuff like designing characters or websites etc. I've always enjoyed drawing as a kid, so art/graphic design/illustrations (esp digital) are definitely areas I'm somewhat interested in. Making videos is pretty fun too, I'm pretty good at getting video clips to flow with their respective music track. Most of the video stuff I do at work is pretty basic cut and combine stuff though, so they're not really using my talents to the fullest. So yeah, I like stuff like that. Having said that, my skills in these areas are still lacking so I'm still working towards getting better at them... But I'm very sure I'd much rather work in a job that involves these sorts of things rather than work as an IT developer of some sort.
What do you guys think? Is it okay for me to have decided immediately after uni that I don't want to have anything to do with a programming-related career, or is my dad right?
I apologize if this entire blog lacks coherence and/or has a ton of mistakes; It's pretty late and I'm not really sure what I'm trying to get out of typing out all of this. I guess I just want to read some of your thoughts/opinions on the matter. I feel a bit guilty about the whole thing, but I also feel like I'm not completely wrong either.
 
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im in the exact same boat with computer science...went into it enjoying simple programming and scripting for games, level design etc. 3 years in and i hate everything im learning
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it kind of sucks to have wasted a free education, but you absolutely should not feel guilty about it, and your dad is an ass for trying to pressure you into doing something that you do not enjoy. You're the one who is gonna have to spend the next 40 or so years working in that field, not him. His opinion means absolutely nothing in this.
That being said, since you obviousnly can't jump into a creative field just yet without any experience or skills, it would be wise to suck it up and work in your chosen field so you can start saving up money to pursue something that you really enjoy. Just actually do your homework and research whatever field it is you want to enter so you don't clunk down $60k on graphic design school to find out that there aren't many jobs. Happiness is great, but try being happy when you can't pay bills
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My dad's a doctor, so when I mentioned that I hated my time in uni, his counter-argument was that he didn't enjoy his time studying medicine either, but that didn't stop him from pursuing a career in it. Perhaps this is why he can't see things from my point of view/vice-versa?
Ha, my father loved his studies in Belgium when he was studying to be a cardiologist!
I got a degree in Sociology and although I don't fancy any of the work demanding degree in Sociology (There are very few btw), I enjoy how I can apply my sociological understandings of cultures and worlds to better the jobs I am in.
I think in the end, your father is just hoping you find a way to apply what you learned in school and got your degree and that it actually fulfills you sentimentally and through work. If you love what you're doing now, perhaps try and figure out how you can fit programming in there.
Not to be too analytical here, but it sounds to me like you dislike programming because you don't understand it (as you clearly noted; that you didn't learn anything in university). That may lead you to not understand how anyone can enjoy "sitting around and typing code all day" (obviously what you're inputting can mean more than just lines of code).
Not sure, but to be honest; if you like what you're doing now, keep going. However, I'd still find a way to fit in everything you've learned and apply it to improve what you're doing now.
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You only live once, do what makes you happy.
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You can do whatever you want but that doesn't mean you'll always get support. After 3 years of studying something you kinda get a jist on whether or not what you are learning is interesting to your or not, not whether it is exciting or extravagant. You mentioned that you didn't really understand the code you were writing. Do you think that if you fully comprehended it that you would like it more and feel more interested to peruse it?
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I'm studying medicine right now. But I enjoy it. It is something that I am really passionate about. It requires a lot of time obviously. It's like a full time job. A lot of my friends dropped out partially because they did not manage to pass the exams, lack of motivation or they realized that they wanted to study something else.
Your dad is definetly not an ass. He just wants what is best for you. He thinks you will do well. And he thinks you just have a down time. Perhaps you are?
Coming out clean with your parents is also a very smart choice. Some people lie to their parents about their situation and digs an even deeper hole for them selves. Some people even end up committing suicide feeling they have no way back.
Trust yourself. Talk to your parents. They just want what is best for you. They could be wrong about your career. But that doesn't mean they are wrong about what sounds good for you.
What my mother keeps repeating to me when I have bad days: "Think positive!"
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Honestly, as long as you have a four-year degree, nothing else actually matters once you're out in the workforce. I'm pretty sure at my last job (tech support) I was the only one in the room with a degree that was even remotely computer related (also a comp sci grad who decided that I had more fun fixing the machines than programming them).
If you don't have fun doing something as a hobby (programming), there's no way you'd enjoy it as a job every day. Be grateful that you got your degree, but explore what you really want to do. If you enjoy what you do, awesome. If you don't, start looking for other things you enjoy. But whatever you do, do it 100%. If you enjoy the editing but "don't have the skills yet," work on getting the skills. Take the time to do the research and learn. Always be learning.
Life's too damn short to worry about shit like this. Less worrying, more doing. Your dad just wants you to have every opportunity to be happy and successful. Everyone should be so lucky. Show him how much passion you have for what you do, and how much you enjoy it. As long as you're happy, and you can show that there's a career path in what you're doing and that you didn't just waste the 4 years in college to end up in a dead-end job, he'll be 100% supportive. I guarantee it.
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Nothing stifles creativity like being told what to do. Programming isn't inherently uncreative, but doing programming assignments with strict requirements (i.e. university) sure is.
I've been writing code as a hobby for nearly 15 years. When I worked in an office environment, I loved every second I could write code on my own terms, effectively (no pun intended) automating my job. The instant people started coming to me with coding projects, "can you do this or that?", I entered hell. If it's not a project of my own choosing for my own reasons, I simply cannot get myself to care about it.
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As a computer science student in my third year right now, I understand where you are coming from. Although I do enjoy computer science for the most part, I believe that there are many areas of computer science that I would not enjoy at all, those areas being the more "technical" areas as you call them. I too am drawn to things that require creativity, like art, music, games, etc. The good news is that computer science has fields that do require a lot of creativity, and not just sitting behind a desk mindlessly programming.
If you are a creative person, seek out a job or more training for a career that always you to do just that -- create. That may mean that you get into game development or web design or something along those lines, but there are lots of other things out there that are hard to think about until you really do your research and find things you are interested in. You may also find that you are more into the art side of things too like graphic design or 3D modeling/animation or something like that.
The good news is that, although those are definitely more art oriented rather than computer science oriented, computer science and programming will actually help you in these fields! Your degree will absolutely not go to waste doing something like that. Professional 3D modeling/animation tools like Autodesk Maya allow you to program your own functions using Python or their integrated MEL script and this is a very useful skill to have as a digital artist, so I wouldn't discount going into a more art oriented field like that if that is what you are interested in and still want to make use of your degree.
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EPT
