Hi everyone,
I’m at a crossroads and could really use some advice from this community.
It’s been a year since I started learning to code. During this time, I’ve created several projects in JavaScript and some smaller ones in React. I’ve also explored backend development. While I’ve made progress and learned a lot, I have to admit that coding doesn’t truly drive me—I don’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
Before starting my coding journey, I was enrolled in a digital marketing course. Many of my batchmates from that course are now earning well, running e-commerce stores or paid media agencies. Seeing their success often makes me feel jealous and question my decisions.
Financially, I’m not in the best place right now. I’ve invested a whole year into learning to code without earning anything, while my batchmates are already reaping the rewards of their efforts. This makes me wonder if I should quit coding and go back to digital marketing, where I could potentially start an e-commerce or paid media agency.
I feel torn between sticking with coding to see if it pays off eventually or switching back to something that seems more practical and aligned with my previous experience.
If anyone here has faced similar doubts or has advice on what to do when passion and practicality don’t align, I’d be incredibly grateful to hear your thoughts.
Thank you!
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Hello @Talha_Since_2005 !
Only you can truly make a decision of your ongoing path.
Learning on freeCodeCamp.org is free, so there is also the opportunity to choose a path that included both your mentioned venture possibilities, while continuing to learn part time at your own pace.
Are your no longer enjoying coding, or is it seeing the money your friends are making currently?
Sometimes, stepping back for a bit, and evaluating if you miss it, or if it is something that keeps pulling you back in to it, helps.
Whatever you decide, I wish you much success on your life’s journey. 
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I understand how you’re feeling. My advice would be
- Think about why you started to code in the first place. Was it the challenge? The opportunities? Did it energise you at all?
- “Comparison is the thief of joy” So I get it, looking at your friends who are making money etc. It gets easier to be hard on yourself and lose the passion you had for coding. When it’s not abou the coding itself. You need money to live and thrive and that’s the reality.
- If you’re depending on coding to be the thing that lands you that big cheque, then it gets much harder to sustain the sheer brain power and dedication needed. There has to be a drive there.
Maybe you do like coding, maybe you don’t. But comparing yourself to those people isn’t helping you no matter what you do. But you’ve already put in 1 year, so I’d say, if you can tap into that drive again, lock in and keep going.
If it’s just about the money (understandably so) it’s gonna be so much harder dude especially if you’re in this alone. If you work hard on this, and rerally build some aweome projects you can land a job. But if you need something to put food on the table that’s a little ‘easier’ then do that and try to find some time to code.
I really hope you think about thihs. Comparison really is like a poison dude so I get you. I’m supporting you whatever decision you make.
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