I'm actually struggling to figure out of I should continue to do leetcode problems because of how I'm guaging time.. Don't get me wrong, I'm starting to enjoy doing leetcode problems but I'm trying to realistically see if I can get into FAANG at my current rate of progression and I don't think the math is working in my favor.

First off I'm a 31 year old now which means that I'll be competing against kids who are 19 or less and can study this stuff intensively. Time is ticking for me as I may start a family soon or something, I don't even know if I want to be in the USA anymore because I want more out of life. The problem is though that I need money. Second, I am just not that bright as a person when it comes to code. Perhaps I don't have the natural talent or whatever but I really struggled to grasp certain coding concepts probably because I never really gave code the focus and dedication it required. As I do more code I enjoy it more but I feel like I really struggled to get a CS degree compared to some peers. I never was the worst but I just didn't give coding the merrit it deserved to be good. Don't get me wrong, I think data structures and algorithms CAN be really simple but that comes at the price of really giving it the time it deserves.

Right now, I'm struggling to figure out some Tree type questions. I had to refamiliarize myself with BFS and DFS even though I studied this stuff a year ago. I think within this year, I have not really studied it all too much but instead had my mind full of video game thoughts or what I'm going to do to my apartment, workouts, etc. It's just not that realistic to fit in study time for data structures and algorithms despite how productive this stuff can make you. I enjoy doing it when I can but I just am semi reluctant to fit it in. I don't think about this stuff all day and I find it a chore in some ways to think about since I'm not naturally inclined to do this as I'm already set on my previous habbits which are playing games, etc. I kind of feel like a drunk trying to give up the booze and open up some rocket science books instead, it's just a little drastic to rewrite the old short term pleasurable habbits with something that is more long term gratification.

I have a friend who works for facebook and originally inspired me to go down the leetcode route but I think this friend has quite a bit more skill when it comes to data strucutres and algos. He shared with me the questions he was asked to get his job and they just seem so much more advanced than anything I can solve. I don't want to compare myself to him but I can't help but do the math to gauge how long it will take me to get in a position like him. I feel like I would have to study this stuff for six months straight and not do anything else that is fun or enjoyable to be in his position. I don't know if my friend sees this either, from his perspective he probably sees that we're not too different, were both programmers with a CS degrees and making six figures. However, I think he has quite a leg up on me. He had a CS masters degree and probably did well in school whereas I barely got thru my CS bachelors degree and had to cheat a bunch only to end up with a 2.9GPA. That said he still gives me encouragment to continue and I don't regret the time I spend doing this stuff but I'm just not sure if I should remove the balance from my life and take on these questions with more seriousness.. perhaps I should pull an Elon Musk or something and just not sleep to become a leetcode master.

That said, I don't want to sound too sour. I think at the rate I'm going with my current job I can retire when I'm 36 in SEA. And I can probably start some type of business doing something online. In a lot of ways I think joining the ranks of FAANG will be soul destroying so instead I'm fortunate enough to just enjoy where I'm at in life and not take things so seriously. I know I need more money, we all do, but that money really does come at a price of enjoying the present moment sometimes..

What do you guys think? Anyone out here know anybody who just quit the race because the juice wasn't worth the squeeze? Or am I wrong as the juice is always worth the squeeze?