Obsolete?

Obsolete?

Maybe I Am …

I nearly earned an Associate’s Degree in Website Design - simple computer programming that was just on the brink of incorporating CSS. That’s how “old” I am in computer years. I did already hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from a state University, but it wasn’t enough to get me a decent job, making the amount of money I wanted. I decided to enter the Computer Programming field through a program offered at the Tech School in the town where I lived. I believed that would provide many options for employment, as well as for becoming successfully self-employed. It was a sensible choice. Sensibility is not my strong point.

I was about two classes away from completing the technology program when I walked away from it. I had been doing well, with an overall A average for my grades. Pretty decent for someone who was never good at math and had a difficult time following programming logic. I hated the few days when we had an Introduction to Computers in Junior High, learning about pixels on our clunky Apple desktops. As an adult, I enjoyed the challenge of learning computer languages and rather liked the work. The use of my hands was also starting to become an issue for using a pencil, so I enjoyed the ability to use the computer for creative expression through design.

I changed my program one semester to GIS. I was good at that, too. I probably should have stuck with it, but it scared me, so I switched back to Web Programming.

I worked most of my way through it, then decided to get a divorce. I desperately tried to save that, too, but it fell m apart anyway. I was basically homeless for a month or so, sleeping on a friends couch, trying to secure employment and being stalked. I finally was able to move into my own place, but it was out of town and I didn’t have the money to return to school - I had to eat and pay rent and stuff. Plus driving my big truck cost a fortune in gas and insurance.

Eventually, I had a good job, got remarried and had a baby. While I considered returning to school to finish my Computer Degree - it bothered me a lot to be that close and leave it incomplete - what I had learned was nearly obsolete. Now my computer programming knowledge is completely irrelevant. I am basically computer illiterate and would be starting over. Starting over doesn’t bother me, computer programming just doesn’t hold much appeal for me anymore. I use computers all the time. Like most people, I now like the ease of just pressing a button and things happen, although it’s irritating when those actions don’t go as planned. I don’t need to know the workings behind it all, I just want it to work! I’ll use my brain power for other things. Like creating. And Science - I love the Life Sciences, but not so much Computer Science. I come from the age of rotary phones and three channels on tv. I can still do basic HTML coding, some XHTML and JAVA and CSS, but I’m not sure how useful that is anymore. I know nothing about current programming languages.

Overall, I think pursuing computer education was a worthwhile endeavor. It expanded my knowledge, helped develop my confidence, and provided me with my first experience of what it requires to be self-employed, but it is no longer for me.

Thank you for reading! How do computers fit into your creative life?