I'm an awkward code writer and I ain't gonna lie, but I'll be damned if that means that I ain't gonna try
When I started university, I had no idea how to write code, and I was sure that I didn't really want to. But, the SFU physics department required me to take a programming class in order to get my degree (and many years later, I'm glad they did!).
When I was first taught to write code, I understood how to do it, but saw it as something that was probably not necessary for my career. It was just a hoop to jump through en route to getting a degree.
My first summer research job was in a materials chemistry lab. I spent my days mixing chemicals, etc. That experience strengthened my conviction that computer programming wasn't necessary.
My next summer research job was in a nuclear physics lab. Most of what I actually accomplished that summer was write a computer program to simulate reactions in the apparatus. I was glad that I knew how to program computers, but was still pretty sure that this was a one-time hassle.
Since then, I've worked in particle physics, astrophysics, and now theoretical neuroscience. In all of these fields, most of my day-to-day activities revolved around writing code to analyze data, or to simulate complicated math problems.
I'm still not great at coding, and I don't love writing code (although I like it more than I used to!), but I do love the power of being able to solve mathematical problems that are so complex I'd have no hope of solving them by hand.
I guess I'm in this code writing thing for life.
To the young kids out there eager to be physicists, I suggest that you learn to be an expert computer programmer. In fact, learn to love programming. It'll make things much easier for you down the road.
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