[aethos]

I've yet to graduate, but I find myself in the same position. I've got other non-CS related hobbies that I enjoy and so I don't really end up making any good side projects.

CS seems to have this feel around it where it has to be both your job and your passion. Recruiters want to see that you spend all your time outside of work/school programming, which makes it difficult for people like us who have other hobbies they like too. I wonder if it will ever change?

[icebraining]

I don't know how's the market where you live, but are you sure the "programming outside work" is really a crucial component, or that you're not just sending your CV to "hip" startups? Because the market around here isn't that hot, yet it's not hard at all to find companies who don't really care about your personal life, they just want to know about your academic and professional lives.

[LeanderK]

i sometimes wonder whether it's worth it. One of my passions is Cs and i enjoy it very much. But It's not the only one and i fear that one day i wake up burned out, wondering how i have wasted my time learning technologies that have become totally useless. If you have a passion for CS, CS will likely consume youre time and dominate your life. I don't want this, i want to learn and have fun, but i think it's comparable to a drug that's fun a first but if you don't watch out dominates your life. Just image if you're in your 50s...does this really matter? Is starting a family a better (but harder!) idea? is work/learning CS really that rewarding? I don't know. I just really hope that i make the right decision and don't waste very valuable time.