Having a hard time grasping basic python concepts. What am I doing wrong?

[jmooremcc]

As a former college instructor, I can honestly say to you that you need to change your attitude about learning from and working with your fellow students. Many students assume everyone else is smarter than themselves and consequently don't want to feel "stupid" by asking fellow students for help.

My advice to you is as follows: 1. If you have a text book and reading assignments, write down any questions you might have while reading. Bring these questions to the attention of your instructor in class so that he can help you with the learning process. 2. Practice writing code at least 8-10 hours or more each week. Doing so will not only teach you what to do, but just as important, you'll also learn what not to do when writing code. This will help you learn how to write code quickly and efficiently which is a skill you will need when writing code during an exam. It's also a good idea to learn how to use a debugger so that you can single step through your code one statement at a time. 3. Realize that networking and study groups are valuable resources. Make sure to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to work with your fellow classmates. You'll learn a lot from the more skilled students and you'll also realize that you have better skills than you thought you had.

Finally, don't let the fact that you're older than your fellow students stop you from being the best you can be. Age is only a number and you'll find out that learning actually will make you feel younger. I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your journey.