Programming was still a hobby for me at that point. Still is. Sometimes wish I didn't spoil it by making it a career. ;)
I feel old now. I started a record label at 22 and wanted to do nothing but music and party. Didn't get a "career" until a couple of years later when my record label burnt out and the parties stopped...
Just remember to live a little. ;)
I'm 23 now, and up until last July I was a professional touring musician (drummer!)...
During college my band signed to Victory Records. We all decided to finish up college and began touring immediately after we graduated. (Computer Engineer here...) I had quite a few people tell me I was making a big mistake continuing with the band and not pursuing a career with my degree... but I honestly believe I learned more on the road (about the world in general) than I would have during that same amount of time in an office.
I had a lot of fun doing it too... it was an opportunity I'm very glad I didn't give up. I left the band for personal reasons/differences and have been working on my startup day-in, day-out ever since.
My startup is actually centered around touring bands and their management/labels/booking. You can check it out at http://www.rela.cc if you want. It's actually days away from officially launching... I just need to add the ~30-second ads for bands and management, and make a few changes to the video tutorial.
So yeah... have fun while you can people and don't pass up once in a lifetime opportunities no matter your age! Maybe if my startup sustains me I'll be able to play music on the road again.
I was in it for the music (looove to drum!) and possibly being a positive influence... let's just say the rest of the guys had other motives. :|
I was also in a hard rock band for 7 years, though we never signed anywhere.
I've actually shortened the descriptions 4 times to as short as I can make them while still explaining the full idea. If you can come up with shorter descriptions please help me out. :)
I've not really found work to spoil programming any more than any other bad job would.
>Just remember to live a little ;)
Just got back from a 3 week trip to SE Asia.
I'm taking time for myself as I go.
I was raised by the stereotypical protestant parents, so I've always been rather work minded. I'm intensely frugal as well, asia trip notwithstanding.
My childhood was code and hacker/unix lore. I grew up reading stories about ken, rms, Pike, etc. I don't really know what else I could do for a living and be happy with, except for maybe some other engineering discipline.
I'm not as provincial as my background would imply.
I would never subject my (potential) children to my childhood.
It gave me a boost in my career and programming, but that's nothing that can't be overcome with a marginal gap in work ethic.
That said, I was very fortunate to be able to crawl out of the lower classes.
I wouldn't trade mine in for thiers though - I love where I am :)