Being a student again.

I’m currently studying part-time for an MSc in Computer Science. It’s an interesting experience being a student again. The course is entirely online, which has its advantages: I can fit it in relatively easily around work and anything else I want/need to do. But it’s a far cry from my arts degree 20 years ago, which was entirely studio based. I do miss the interaction with my peers, and I feel that shared experience can be a good motivator. The work is mostly interesting, but it could certainly be made more so by sharing thoughts and ideas with others.

Learning about the theoretical side of computer science is something I missed out on over my career path as a self-taught developer. I’m enjoying the process of following loose threads and understanding how programming theory connects to my own work. The coursework is challenging and there are frustrating moments. Coming from a creative background, I often get an instinctive moment of panic when I come across a page of unfamiliar notation, or when I’m introduced to a new concept. Sometimes it’s hard to fight the intrusive thoughts telling me that it’s too difficult, that I’m not cut out for it. I have to remind myself that I taught myself to code, and that I’ve figured out plenty of complicated stuff before. Breaking problems down into bite-size steps is the key.

Studying for me is about building a deeper understanding of the field as a whole. I don’t know what my end goal is, and during these uncertain times it seems almost laughable to have one. But the way I see it, arming myself with more knowledge can only be a good thing.