Man this kinda feels like me, first I thought "anything is possible, just put your mind to it", but after encountering a crazy good programmer at my job I think differently.
I have a bachelor degree, 36 years old, and I feel like I have reached my ceiling.
I still think that I make progression, but it is so slow compared to some really good programmers at my job.
It sometimes makes me feel insecure, and I think of quiting my job, because it feels like I will never be able to be as good as others.
On the other hand, maybe I should just accept that this is it, it wont get any better.
I was mostly the follow your curiosity type with a few areas I worked hard.. I noticed much later that the reason I impressed teachers and later coworkers is that I'd seen everything before..
CS is an extension of math, a hard science where you seek validation from reality instead of others. If you take the style of the mathematician all comes easy. CS is an extension of linguistics, there might be a style that works there too, but there is also the lost people who count snowflakes instead of noticing snow is all about the same.
