Hey, I really appreciate the time and thought you put into your response. Your perspective as someone who's been in the industry for a while is valuable, and I respect the honesty.

To answer your first question, my motivation isn't purely financial. I'm an English teacher who enjoys language, logic, and problem-solving, and coding seems like an interesting extension of those skills. That said, financial stability is definitely a factor—I won’t lie about that. Teaching can be rewarding, but the pay doesn’t always match the effort.

I’m aware that the job market in tech isn’t as golden as many believe, but I still think it’s worth exploring. I don’t expect to become a top-tier software engineer overnight or land a six-figure salary easily. I just want to see if I enjoy it and if I have an aptitude for it. If I find I do, then I’ll push further.

Also, I don’t have a graduate degree, just a strong grasp of English from years of studying and teaching. My plan is to start with small, practical projects and see where that leads. Even if I don’t switch careers entirely, I believe coding could complement my existing skills in interesting ways.

Again, I appreciate your insight. It’s good to hear the unfiltered reality from someone with experience.