In the Life of a Computer Science Student: The Survival Diaries

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Episode 5: The Reality of Being a Computer Science Student -What Nobody Tells You

Author's Note: The experiences shared in this article are based on my own journey as a Computer Science student. What has worked for me may not work for everyone, but I hope these reflections encourage you to find a healthy, sustainable way to navigate your own path.

If you've been following my In the Life of a Computer Science Student series, welcome back.

One thing I promised myself when I started writing these posts was that I'd share the real experience-

not just the highlight reel.

When people hear that I'm studying Computer Science, they usually have one of two reactions.

"You must be a genius."

Or...

"Can you hack into someone's Instagram?"

I usually laugh, but those moments remind me how many misconceptions there are about this degree.

The truth?

Computer Science has been one of the most rewarding and most challenging experiences of my life.

As I'm writing this, I'm in my second year of university. Some days I feel like I know exactly what I'm doing. Other days, a compiler error humbles me in seconds. And honestly, I think that's the beauty of this journey.

It's not about knowing everything.

It's about becoming someone who's willing to keep learning.

Computer Science Is More Than Writing Code

Before I started university, I thought Computer Science would mostly be programming.

I quickly learned that coding is only one part of the picture.

This degree teaches you how to think logically, solve problems creatively, communicate ideas, work in teams, design systems, analyze data, and build solutions that can genuinely improve people's lives.

Sometimes I spend hours writing code.

Other times I spend even longer trying to understand why the code isn't working.

Ironically, that's where the real learning happens.

The Smallest Bugs Can Teach the Biggest Lessons

One thing nobody prepares you for is debugging.

There have been moments where I stared at my screen wondering why my program refused to work.

I'd check every line.

Read every error message.

Question every life decision that brought me to that assignment.

Only to discover that I'd forgotten something incredibly small.

A missing bracket.

A typo.

A semicolon.

Those moments can be frustrating, but they've also taught me one of the biggest lessons in Computer Science:

Patience is just as important as intelligence.

Every Project Builds More Than Your Portfolio

One of my favorite parts of this degree has been building projects.

Over the past two years, I've created systems like a Library Management System, a Church Management System, a Student Profile Management System, and other software that challenged me to think beyond the classroom.

Each project taught me something different.

Not just technically, but personally.

They taught me how to plan before coding.

How to work through problems instead of giving up.

And how rewarding it feels to watch an idea slowly become something real.

Now I'm working on HealoBot, a health-focused application inspired by my own experiences with dietary restrictions. It's still growing, but building it reminds me why I chose this degree in the first place.

Technology has the power to solve real problems.

That's the kind of software I want to create.

You Don't Have to Know Everything

One lesson I've had to learn-and keep reminding myself of-is that nobody has all the answers.

Not your classmates.

Not your lecturers.

Not even professional software engineers.

Google has become one of my most-used study tools.

Documentation is my friend.

And asking questions is a strength, not a weakness.

The moment I stopped expecting myself to know everything was the moment learning became much more enjoyable.

Comparison Will Steal Your Joy

It's easy to compare yourself to other students.

Someone finishes an assignment before you.

Someone understands a concept immediately.

Someone builds an impressive application.

I've been there too.

But I've realized that everyone starts from a different place.

The only comparison that truly matters is whether you're improving from where you were yesterday.

Growth isn't a competition.

It's a journey.

Why I Still Love Computer Science

Despite the long nights, difficult assignments, debugging sessions, and occasional moments of self-doubt...

I genuinely love studying Computer Science.

I love that every semester teaches me something new.

I love turning ideas into real projects.

I love knowing that one day the skills I'm learning today could help build software that makes someone's life easier.

That's what keeps me motivated.

Not the grades.

Not the titles.

The opportunity to create something meaningful.

Final Thoughts

If you're thinking about studying Computer Science, don't let fear convince you that you aren't capable.

You don't need to know every programming language before university.

You don't need to have built dozens of applications.

You simply need curiosity, consistency, patience, and the willingness to keep learning.

Computer Science isn't about being the smartest person in the room.

It's about becoming someone who isn't afraid to solve difficult problems.

And if there's one thing this degree has taught me so far, it's that every challenge is another opportunity to grow.

Thank you for reading another post in my In the Life of a Computer Science Student series.

If any part of this reminded you of your own journey-or encouraged you to start yours- I hope you'll join me for the next post. Until then, keep learning, keep building, and don't be afraid of the bugs. Sometimes they're the best teachers.

println("Ciao");

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like Finding Your Place in Computer Science


Author

Selma Nghinamanu

Known as Ndilly

Computer Science Student |  Software Engineer | Founder 


Image Credits

Hero image: Photo by Selma Nghinamanu 

Sharing the real journey behind university, technology, entrepreneurship, and building a career in tech.

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