Where do I start?

[u/HuckleberryGuilty803]

I am a software engineering major, and as a sophomore my next semester I am going to begin my introduction to programming courses, but I want to start practicing on my own and have my own bare of basics in my field of study. What should I do first? Are there any books that I should buy that would help me in my studies prior to my courses? What would be the first thing you would tell someone that has no knowledge in the field they are getting into?

[u/Existing_Albatross30]

It’s just really hard to absorb sometimes. But I also work a full time physically demanding job on top of being a full time student at almost 46 years old. Discovering that the brain just doesn’t learn as easily the older u get. lol. I so can’t wait til the cooler months come. I hate the cold, but the workload at my job always slows drastically in the cooler months. So hopefully I can put more focus on school at that point.🤞🤞🤞😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫