Feeling grateful...

dalecosp

It was about 10 years ago, more or less, I began my journey into this weird world of programming.

I was a bit of a noob, despite my advanced age. 😉

A goodly number of goodly folk were patient with me, explaining and giving examples, saying encouraging things, being friendly to someone they would never meet or hope to gain anything from. Most of these are "Elder Days" members of this forum; many of them don't come around much anymore; most of those who do are to be found here.

My wife and kids, and I, would like to say "thank you so much" for helping me migrate careers.

The next time you're frustrated with some dumb post on the boards, just remember that you are a person of great quality. Thanks. 🙂

vaaaska

It was about 10 years ago for me too. I really sucked for the first couple of years but voila...I really wanted to learn and now I know some things.

😉

cretaceous

I'm of advanced age too (bet I'm older though)
I've been doing this stuff for 12 years (Director's lingo, then html) - followed by php/mysql for about 8

I've now got to the stage where I still (embarassingly) can't write my own OOP code
but I'm still astonished at what other stuff there is to learn - it's never ending
(but I think that's half the attraction)

NogDog

Over roughly the same period, I've gone from someone with a degree in music and working as a software tester with only a smattering of basic programming knowledge to the present day, where I'm now about a month and a half into a new job with the title of "software engineer." 🙂

dalecosp

vaaaska;10990163 wrote:
It was about 10 years ago for me too. I really sucked for the first couple of years but voila...I really wanted to learn and now I know some things.

😉

And, IIRC, you're kinda from the "Elder Days" ... good to see you again!

cretaceous;10990171 wrote:
I'm of advanced age too (bet I'm older though)
I've been doing this stuff for 12 years (Director's lingo, then html) - followed by php/mysql for about 8

I've now got to the stage where I still (embarassingly) can't write my own OOP code
but I'm still astonished at what other stuff there is to learn - it's never ending
(but I think that's half the attraction)

Hmm. I'm smack dab mid-40s now, and OOP is a bit of a challenge for me as well ... but "procedural" I can darn near do anything anyone asks in PHP. Weird. What is it about us old pharts? 😃

NogDog;10990203 wrote:
Over roughly the same period, I've gone from someone with a degree in music and working as a software tester with only a smattering of basic programming knowledge to the present day, where I'm now about a month and a half into a new job with the title of "software engineer." 🙂

Now, there is a story. I was a music teacher for a lil' more than a decade, and served in churches as well ... music was my blood, bread, 'n butter.

Interesting that now I can start in programming (well, lol, for someone else that is) at an annual salary greater than I ever got teaching. Of course, that was 10 years ago. If I'd been able to stay there I'd probably be making as much or more, plus the advantage of plenty of extra vacation. But, perhaps, more stress. Coaches and Band Directors rate extremely high on the "heart attack risk factor" actuarial tables, so I hear (and have some anecdotal evidence for).

cretaceous

heart atttacks ?
try working for yourself and taking on too much work and then falling behind on delivery and dealing with not so happy customers .. or juggling jobs frantically so they all progress while spending half the day writing emails and neglecting the invoicing..
or conversely worrying where the next job is coming from..
(I've been very busy for last 5 years so can't complain)
at least you're on good terms with him up there!

dalecosp

Well, I do hear ya ... worked for myself for nearly a decade and made so little that my wife should've shot me like a lame horse (hmm, come to think of it, she got kinda close a couple times 😉 )

But there are quite a few teachers die younger than some other professions, at least in years past. It may be that now, with the economy depressed in so many places, that bankers and stockbrokers, etc. have increased risk. And from what I've read, women in offices haven't done so well of late either.