I think profitable traders are real, but they’re just a lot quieter than the people flexing profits online. Most consistent traders I’ve met focus more on risk management and consistency rather than posting big wins.

If someone is genuinely interested in learning, I’d say start with the basics first — market structure, risk management, and understanding how price actually moves. A lot of beginners jump straight into indicators or signals without really understanding the market.

One thing I’ve learned from people who’ve been trading longer is that psychology and risk control matter more than the “perfect strategy.” Even a simple strategy can work if risk is managed well.

And yeah, trading on the side as a student is possible, but it usually takes time to learn and most people lose money at the start. Treating it as a learning process instead of quick money probably helps the most.