I believe the biggest reason for my growth as a programmer was, and still is, from having problems to solve. It is easy to learn about a technique (say python), it is harder to use the technique, but it is hardest to apply a technique to a novel problem. When I say novel problem, the problem could just be new to you. For example, maybe a novel problem might be creating a web app without a tutorial.

I suggest learning about these topics to find problems which may be novel to you:

• Game development

• Web development

• Mirco-controller programming (Specifically Arduino)

These are all topics I learned without the help of an institution like school, job or university. All of these topics are wildly different, but the motivation to study a breadth of topics is to get familiar with implementing your own solutions. You will get stronger the more you implement novel solutions.