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A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

(initcoder.com)
165 points chbkall | 3 comments | 05 Jul 25 08:52 UTC | HN request time: 0.633s | source
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fn-mote ◴[05 Jul 25 10:50 UTC] No.44471781[source]▶
> My lovely wife ([…] who believes I have adult ADHD) is supportive of my journey, and has no qualms becoming the only breadwinner of the family.

Some advice for the OP:

1. Don’t give up working. IMO, a job provides structure to the ADHD and keeps you moving forward instead of spinning your wheels. Change job? Sure. Work 25 hours/week? Sure. Not 0 though.

2. Before you start on the projects, spend some time learning how to design programs. I like HtDP.org but it’s kind of oriented to a class setting.

3. OSSU could be the project of a lifetime. Beware getting sucked in there. That said, some of the courses referenced are excellent. Knowing ALL of them is a lot.

4. Have an exit plan if you are not working. When will you work again? Some bad scenarios are less horrible if you are ready to jump back into the workforce.

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globnomulous ◴[05 Jul 25 15:00 UTC] No.44473223[source]▶
1. Agreed. There's strong evidence that most people who quit their jobs to pursue passion projects accomplish less than those who pursue them but keep their jobs.
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lukan ◴[05 Jul 25 16:20 UTC] No.44473742[source]▶
Can you share that strong evidence?
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1. globnomulous ◴[05 Jul 25 19:49 UTC] No.44475056[source]▶
Oof, no, I can't. I'd edit my comment, tempering that certainty, if I could.

I recall multiple therapists telling me precisely that, according to the research, people are less likely to accomplish or make progress on passion projects when they quit their jobs with that goal in mind. I have memories of finding papers on this, too. Now I can't find them, and I'm questioning the accuracy of my memory.

Disheartening and embarrassing, but probably healthy, too. Thanks for the reality check.

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2. ◴[05 Jul 25 21:05 UTC] No.44475533[source]▶
3. lukan ◴[06 Jul 25 09:42 UTC] No.44479221[source]▶
"Thanks for the reality check."

My speciality, you are are welcome.

I can only share anecdotically, that for me having 2 jobs did not worked out at all and I only started to make progress on my passion project once I quit all the other stuff. On the other hand money was tight and stress

So it probably depends, on the stress level of the ordinary job. If it is something that brings money but leaves you energy, it might be the better alternative to have more time but existential fear which blocks passion for me.