Hello. 22M here. Majoring in Physics, 1st year. Looking for decent earning options, almost as a whole career, but I have no idea which way to go.
Let me tell you a bit about myself. I have a strong fictional imagination, basically a writer's mind. English is not my native language. But I've practiced one or two short stories in my own language.
I have created multiple plots for multiple stories. I've intentions to start writing soon on them.
Anyway, I have close to zero bit of knowledge about coding. I only know html.
I had the time to pursue further into other languages like python, C, C++, but I'm very weak in mathematics. So I didn't learn further coding. I also didn't learn much mathematics, which has put me in an almost degraded institution for honours.
My current mental state cannot focus on one thing to pursue, I don't know why. Sometimes it gets all motivated to write the story, and other times, it gets depressed thinking about how AI is taking all the jobs and I have to learn to code to battle against AI with my own AI.
So this is the overall depiction of my shattered mind and life. I also come from a lower-middle class family. So money is scarce.
I don't want to argue about my moral ethics that if I want to earn money quickly, I can do this or that over my innate talent etc.
What I want to know is, which way will first build a strong foundation of knowledge within me and will keep me going for the long run along with the money.
Because, if I have to learn to code, I also have to study mathematics, if I want to write, I also need to research for a long time before I can even layer the elements inside the story.
My laptop broke 2 years ago and I've been on my android since then. I'm going to buy either a laptop or a tablet soon.
And a tablet adds another way which is digital arts. I don't know how to draw at all. But, as I said, whichever way I choose, I'll have to spend a bit long amount of time to actually train myself to be sufficient on that path. So I have no problem getting introduced to such new ideas and paths and spending time to get along with them.
I also got stuck between the device choice. If I buy a laptop, I'll be able to learn to code and to write my stories. And if I buy a tablet, I'll be able to learn to be a digital artist and can also write my stories but no coding.
So, the way the world's economy is going, which way and which device should I go after?
You don't need to be good at math to learn to code. In fact, someone telling me there wasn't much math involved is what made me seriously consider it.
And well over a decade in, I've actually found I enjoy math when it's about how things fit together rather than the numbers themselves... But generally you can totally avoid it, the computer is really good at math so make the computer do it
Get away from the C++, start with python then move to another high level language like typescript or C# or something. You can learn to code on your phone if you hook up a keyboard, it will be limited but you will be able to do code challenges and even build apps
As far as the future? AI is really killing junior dev jobs. Which is going to lead to a lack of mid and senior devs pretty soon.
The Internet is also dying, a lot of people make money as content creators, but it's not a quick path to money and it's a very uncertain one. The people who love it are living their dream, if that's not your dream, don't do it to yourself
My honest advice? Get a job as a handyman and major in computer science if you find you have the aptitude.
No one knows what is going to happen in the near future, but people will always need things patched up. And if you can break through the gap in junior devs, there's going to be a huge need for people to maintain all the old code that underpins modern life
In uncertain times, it's good to go all in or hedge your bets. If you're not the all in type, learn every skill you can