[dcmininni]

True enough. Given the length of the post and how prevalent the theme of "luck" appears I still find it obnoxious. No doubt there is so much to learn in and around computers that everyone should feel humbled, but this guy should also recognize the mere mortals around him struggling even more so.

[phillmv]

>the mere mortals around him

I think I can empathize with your view, now.

Your mileage may vary, but as a mere mortal I personally find it much more reassuring when the role of luck is recognized.

Too many narratives are akin to:

"Well, I worked very hard every day without stop and tho I struggled at first - with how hard I was working - eventually the fruits of my labour yielded this unbroken string of successes thereby reaping my just deserts"

[dcmininni]

Agreed.

[Joof]

My experience in school seems similar except I didn't get nice math courses until very late on and I was miserably bad at the memorization-based Calculus work (and I still am, but I can do abstract math very well). By then I was pretty disillusioned by school in general.

His luck probably helped quite a lot. Nobody really knows what they are good at or what they will enjoy until they do it. Even if it's 'harder' or 'easier'. Having a good mentor is difficult as well; they have to know their stuff, want to teach and mesh well with you.

[pjc50]

What kind of recognition do you want from him? I'm genuinely confused.