[isaacdl]

It's easy to romanticize "carefree childhood", but I think that's baloney. I've loved working with computers for literally as long as I can remember. When I was 13, working with computers was playing! Getting paid to play would have been a dream come true for me at that age.

[wdewind]

Yeah, same. While it's important that kids aren't forced into working, I think it's just as important to recognize that some kids are genuinely excited by the field and by the prospect of getting to work with people who can help them develop their skills. It doesn't have to be some soul crushing thing. Starting work early gave me a sense of self-worth that is irreplaceable and I can't count how many times I heard from adults "just be a kid, don't worry about all that!" I have no regrets, working early was exciting, self-fulfilling and gave me a lot of freedom in life much earlier that many of my peers.

[smt88]

I've loved it, too, but I don't look back and treasure my countless hours coding. It's great to have a skill, but the things I remember are time I spent with my family and friends.

[Eridrus]

Would you go back in time and do things differently? I personally wouldn't, I would do things the same way again; I was crazy motivated when I was younger.

[smt88]

I had an amazing time as a teenager because I spent all my time coding or with people I care about. The only negative consequences was that I got bad grades. I certainly don't regret getting bad grades.

[gohrt]

Do you treasure countless hours with family and friends, or do you treasure a set of memorable moments? Also, not everyone is an extrovery.

[smt88]

I treasure the time as well as the moments. It's hard to get very close to people with just a memorable set of moments.

You don't have to be an extrovert to enjoy close personal relationships or have regrets about how much time you spent with loved ones when you had the chance.

I'm sure there are people who don't value people or relationships. If OP is one of them, I'm sure he'll disregard my advice categorically.

[agentultra]

That's basically it in a nutshell. I don't think it even occurred to me when I was a kid that people "worked" with computers. I loved programming games and exercises from books and magazines. That was the pinnacle of fun for me. I think my mind would have been blown if you told me back then that I could have a job doing what I do today.

[rifung]

Getting an internship is certainly not just "getting paid to play" in my experience. I loved working on computers as well, but working is sadly not the same as playing in your free time. The main difference of course is that you don't necessarily choose what you work on or when you work on it.

I remember asking someone why she would choose not to do something she loves for a living if she could get paid to do it. Her response, "Because I don't want to end up hating it."

That being said, I do like my job. Still, there are other things I would work on if I didn't need to get paid, even beyond the non work related things I already work on.

[GithubDog]

I think it depends more on why he wants the internship, and what his situation is.