Having previous experience with game development and programming, my Programming 1 class just felt redundant to me. I knew more than the scope of the class. The professor for this class was riveting. He was outstanding at teaching, and he had to be because for most students he was the first time they were getting exposed to the vast world of coding. Being the amazing professor he was, and knowing that I had learnt all of this previously, he would indulge me in challenges. To be honest, except for the challenges, I would be bored in class with nothing to do. Occasionally I would learn new tips about Visual Studio, new coding convention and rules, and new keywords. I would always learn a few tidbits. I remember cribbing about the class being boring because I knew all the concepts being taught.

Months passed and now I was coding more complicated programs. One day I realised how many of the tips and coding methodologies taught in Programming 1 I was using! I wouldn’t go 2 minutes without using something he taught me. My workflow became faster because of the shortcuts I learnt from this class. The professor would also talk about the concepts of computer science which really came in handy when programming large systems for the midterm project. I was using the different keywords and naming conventions taught in this class on a daily basis. These “tips” are now the foundation of my programming skills.

There is always an opportunity to learn, be on the lookout for that opportunity and you will learn. And even the smallest thing learnt doesn’t go in vain.