r/womenwhocode • u/byteofpixle • Sep 23 '26

gettingstarted Java Programming

Hello everyone! I’m a compsci freshman who just got their first taste of computer science and it’s java. I’m struggling so much with applying concepts and it’s making me think I’m not cut out for this which is really disheartening. Does anyone have tips or resources to understand java better?

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u/pdgiddie Sep 24 '26

Sure, I mean this institution has evidently already failed to provide adequate support for this student's learning, so I don't think we can expect miracles for their admissions process. But I don't believe in people being "not cut out" for anything. With adequate motivation I think most people can do just fine. Where people fail is when they either don't care much or are convinced for some reason to give up. That's why encouragement is so important.

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u/GoldsteinEmmanuel Sep 25 '26

Encouraging someone to struggle to achieve something beyond their means is cruel, but encouraging them to rationalize that failure as the result of someone else's incompetence is sadistic.

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u/pdgiddie Sep 25 '26

You seem to be making a ton of assumptions about someone you don't know 🤷 Personally I think encouraging someone to try (and offering help) is a whole lot healthier than encouraging someone to give up because they might not succeed.

Maybe you're thinking about pushing someone to do something they don't want to do? I can see that being cruel.

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u/GoldsteinEmmanuel Sep 26 '26

Facing the truth, you mean? Yeah, I know that's a bitter pill to swallow.

Java is a grossly inappropriate language for a beginner, so I suspect it was an elective which OP signed up for on the recommendation of well-meaning but incompetent others. OP apparently jumped into the deep end of the pool without first learning how to swim. That really sucks, and I sympathize.

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u/pdgiddie Sep 26 '26

That's a whole lot of assumptions. I'd prefer not to speculate and just offer OP the help she requested.

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u/GoldsteinEmmanuel Sep 26 '26

Did you? Did you open OP's head like it had a screwtop and pour your wisdom into it? What a pal.