[iamcreasy]

> I've tried to branch out into a number of different things, but nothing sticks. I fail to understand, fail to recognize patterns, am too slow to understand simple concepts and never retain anything.

I am doing my Masters in Statistics after doing my BS in Computer Science. It was overwhelming and like you, I felt I do not understand even the basic concepts and it takes longer to grasp the simpler concepts. But I realized I just have to spend more time on topics I do not understand and ask for help from my peers.

From my experience, in terms of learning new subject, I think what you are feeling/facing is expected and you just have to push through it.