[vanilla-latte]

I was never very good in high school. If I tried very hard, my best score would always be close to 80%. I never liked being told how and what to study, that kind of environment never fit well with me.

Uni was a much better fit, being able to study and learn in my own time, and on my own way. I still remember my first two years at Uni. Barely passing almost all tests/exams with a 50%-60% despite spending many hours at night in the library to study before going home to do the same. I felt like an imposter faking in class.

One day, after struggling so much, I realised that trying to force myself to learn. Instead, try to understand the material by experimenting with it.

If I was given a piece of code, I would modify it and re-write it from scratch in my own way. Slowly my grades started to improve, but most importantly I began to enjoy Uni much more. I met many people, and found friends to have fun and muck around with.

Looking back now that I'm working full time, it's like a fond memory where I did many embarrassing things with friends.

I'm still early in my career, but almost all my skills/knowledge I've developed came from me experimenting and exploring in my own way in my own time.

I'm not sure if this helps, but that's my rough journey.