[schme]

I'm 22 and only just now going to university. I've had the same issues as the author, about the non-encouraging environment, friends not interested etc. I had the interest sure, but never -really- got into it. Dabbled through Python books and tutorials here and there, tried different languages but never got prolific in any of them. Rarely creating anything outside answers to exercises. But I forgave myself (kinda, I always felt too old when reading about those 12-year old wiz-kids, being 15 and all).

For a long time I considered myself ahead of the curve, for browsing sites like HN, absorbing information from the internet. It was about a year ago I finally realized it doesn't matter if I haven't actually done anything. "Sponge learning" only gave breadth, but no deep knowledge was achieved. I couldn't DO anything.

Nowadays I still think I'm behind my peers. Maybe not behind the average, but it's never the average we strive for. I still feel inadequate and, most likely, will never get rid of that feeling. I concentrate on doing what I can with what I have, getting better and trying not to compare myself too much.