| I went through a similar phase when I was younger. I had been involved with amateur radio since I was 13 and everything in my life pointed to EE at university. By the time I got there, I didn't see the point anymore. I no longer found it interesting. Shortly thereafter, I rediscovered programming and I've been doing it ever since (20+ years). In hindsight, I think I had just gone through my first bout of burnout. I still find electronics interesting and enjoyable. So burnout may be one aspect of what you're experiencing. Since you're an extrovert, you have a natural propensity that many people don't have in this industry. That can be a superpower for you. You might excel at giving talks, communicating with other teams, managing groups, and the like. The fact that you enjoy development and have put in the time means that these activities won't be vacuous. The feelings of exasperation that you have are similar to what many others--novices and veterans alike--are feeling. Things change quickly in this field. Many others have written about how to cope with this. It's a real thing but something that can be mitigated and gotten past. You might consider taking a step back and recharging. The New Year time frame is an excellent time to do so (generally speaking). Think about a few goals that you may want to focus on this year. If you pick a project, choose one that means something to you. It could be one of your own or someone else's. We live in an amazing time of open source and collaboration. The main thing is, don't worry. You've got plenty of time ahead of you to pick your path and make things work. The fact that you're reaching out and searching for answers is a great indicator of future success. Just keep moving forward. |