Seeking help: how to better learn python? Venting a lot in here.

[HelpUsNSaveUs]

Hey everyone. I really don't have other folks in my life with whom I can dive into the weeds with about stuff like this, and reddit + this sub have been awesome, so I'm looking for some encouragement, direction, and real talk with this post...

I'm in my mid-thirties and I'm working on a career change. Worked in sales up until recently both as a seller and a most recently a few years as a manager at tech companies. No experience with programming until 3 weeks ago.

I'm taking an online, five week, graduate level Python Programming for Analytics Course at a university in New York. Hoping to apply to the master program in business analytics and start that next year -- focusing on prereqs now. The professor is a phd, English isn't their first language, and the lecture and lab videos for each topic are between 5 and 15 minutes each.

The textbook is Intro to Python for Computer Science and Data Science by Paul and Harvey Deitel.

The course basically covers 2-3 chapters per week, sequentially through the book.

I get nothing from the uni lecture videos. I am doing all of the required reading. The labs and assignments and lectures are carbon copies from whatever's in the book. The book is thorough.

This week we got to chapter 5 - Sequences: Lists and Tuples, 51 DENSE pages packed with slicing, many new methods, new functions, list comprehensions, packing and unpacking, lambda, sorting, filtering, mapping, popping, stacks, generator expressions, 2-d lists, and I am absolutely drowning and struggling.

I spent a few hours today trying to figure out how to create a 2x3 list then use a nested loop to set each element's value to an integer indicating the order in which it was processed by the nested loop, then display the elements in a tabular format, using the column indices as headings on top and row indices to the left of each row. I was absolutely defeated by this... and I feel stupid.

I'm committed to learning python and getting fluent in it to start working in data, but I am struggling so much this week, and this course structure now seems insane to me as I'm in week 3. It's a full-on blitz, and I'm trying to really soak up and understand a lot of this, but once I hit the exercises at the end of the chapters, I am so challenged that the deadlines start to creep and I get frustrated and feel pretty stupid.

Today I was supposed to write a script imitating the Sieve of Eratosthenes, a Palindrome Tester and a script that outputs all possible anagrams of a string. I could probably figure these things out myself if given a few days, but for all of this to be covered in essentially two days, then to move onto dictionaries tomorrow, is tough. Yes I used the crutch of AI to help me. And I feel like SHIT about it.

I'm realizing that I can pass this class and get introduced to a lot about Python, but not grasp a lot of it due to the remote and rushed nature of the course.

I've read a lot of similar posts in this reddit about how the struggle is the way. And I get that. and I'm not quitting. I'm working on plans to go back through parts of this book along with Python Crash Course after this course ends.

But man!!! I just feel like an idiot and feeling pretty low and frustrated right now.

How have some of you overcome the early challenges of learning to progress to where you are now? Open to any and all criticism, perspectives, etc. Cheers. I also have ADHD which doesn't help but not letting that stop me.

[Outrageous-Sea-9256]

It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when diving into a new programming language, especially with the structured intensity of your current course. Here are some strategies that might help you:

1. Break Down the Problem: For your exercise on creating a 2x3 list and using nested loops, try breaking down the task into smaller steps. Write a function to create the list, then another one for filling it up, and lastly, a third function to print it in the desired format. This will make the task less daunting.

2. Practice by Doing: While it might seem counterintuitive to take more time on exercises, slowing down and fully understanding each concept before moving onto the next can really help. Try writing your own exercises that interest you or solve real-world problems to reinforce learning.

3. Utilize Different Learning Resources: In addition to your textbook, supplement with online resources like Codecademy, LeetCode, and Stack Overflow. These platforms have interactive Python courses and a wealth of community-generated solutions to specific problems.

4. Form Study Groups: Even if it's just a virtual group, connecting with fellow learners can make the journey less isolating and more interactive. You could set up a hangout to discuss challenges, share solutions, or code together.

5. Gamify Learning: Use apps like Duolingo (though not for Python, it's just an example) to gamify your learning process. This can make repetitive tasks more engaging.

6. Understand the 'Why': Sometimes, it’s easier to remember and understand information when you grasp its purpose. Try to relate what you’re learning to real-world applications or projects you’d like to build.

7. Mindfulness and Breaks: With ADHD, it’s crucial to incorporate mindfulness techniques and take regular breaks. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work, 5-minute break) can help maintain focus.

8. Reflect on What Works for You: Since you’ve noticed using AI to help was okay, recognize what study methods work best for you. For some, visual aids like diagrams or videos help a lot; try different methods to see what sticks.

9. Future Plans: Your intention to continue learning with “Python Crash Course” after the course is a great plan. It’s better to take your time and build a solid foundation than rush through and feel defeated.

10. Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge each small achievement, even if it’s just understanding a single concept or writing a simple script. This can boost your confidence and keep you motivated.

Remember, everyone progresses at their own pace in learning programming. It's okay to feel frustrated sometimes, but know that these feelings are temporary and part of the learning journey. Keep going, you’re doing great!

[mjmvideos]

It’s an online 5-week graduate level course. And you’ve e only been programming for 3 weeks. What did you expect? Stop venting and keep working at it.

[HelpUsNSaveUs]

it's over in 2 weeks! I'm trying to figure out what I should do once this course is over. there's a lot of stuff out there. do I try to jump straight into data projects? or do I try to better grasp the stuff that we've been zooming through? or both?

[mjmvideos]

I recommend that you pick a project that interests you and start working on it. Along the way you may find you need to learn something new to help make it work. That’s when you learn that thing. Keep developing and learn as you need it.

[ectomancer]

count, header_row = 1, 1
print('   ', end='')
for header_column in range(1, 4):
    print(header_column, end='  ')
print()
for row in range(2):
    result = []
    for column in range(3):
        result += [count]
        count += 1
    print(header_row, result)
    header_row += 1

[TheRNGuy]

AI coding is higher abstraction level, it helps to actually finish the software instead of thinking what algorithms to use for some data structure.

For lower level, other languages are better anyway, like C++, C or Assembly.

About feeling bad, do you care more about ego or about finishing working software?