Chasing dreams or delusion? Why I stopped my gaming-obsessed nephew from studying IT

Recently, I was asked to advise my nephew, a high school junior, on his career path. What surprised me was his determination to study Information Technology, despite attending one of the lowest-ranking schools and barely passing the high school entrance exam with an average score of 4 out of 10 in each subject, yet he aspires to become a game programmer.

My nephew says he is passionate about gaming and wants to become a successful and wealthy programmer like our neighbor, but I believe this is unrealistic.

Although he can write basic programs using C, C++, and Python, these are skills he self-taught online. His "passion" for programming stems largely from his addiction to gaming. He once played for hours without eating or sleeping, to the point of being hospitalized for stomach pain and low blood sugar. The success of a game developer living nearby, whose wealth and awards he admired, only intensified his desire to pursue this field. Yet, I recall a time when, as a 7th grader, he could not solve even a 3rd-grade math problem without my help.

There is a long-standing debate: does passion lead to success, or does success spark passion? From my perspective, it is success that fuels passion. My nephew’s so-called passion for game development originated from witnessing someone else’s achievements. When he experienced small moments of success, such as solving simple programming problems, these minor victories temporarily reinforced his enthusiasm.

However, without genuine success, frustration will soon replace excitement. Consistent achievement motivates continued effort, while failure often leads to disinterest. It is similar to how a child who solves a puzzle and receives praise becomes eager to learn more, while one who struggles and faces criticism may lose motivation entirely.

A person works in front of a laptop. Photo from Pexels

For anyone to succeed, they must solve a problem that society genuinely needs addressed. Success comes from creating value, not chasing trends or imitating others. That is why I advised my nephew to first study what contemporary society demands, then assess whether his own abilities match those needs. If not, he should not persist stubbornly.

While gaming does serve a societal need for entertainment, developing a successful game requires years of skill, creativity, and teamwork. A game programmer must spend at least five years in university learning the fundamentals, followed by several more years working in a professional environment to gain expertise.

Programming, especially in game development, is a long and repetitive process of trial and error. Mistakes are constant, and resolving them often demands deep reasoning and extensive knowledge. Syntax errors can be fixed with software tools, but logical errors require strong analytical skills, experience, and extensive study of programming books.

Today, artificial intelligence can help anyone create a simple game, but building a sustainable and profitable product requires far more than AI tools. To manage the complex, interrelated systems in game development, one must have a deep understanding of algorithms, user experience, and business strategy. Those unable to solve simple problems cannot possibly manage such complexity.

In contrast, professions that produce tangible results, such as craftsmanship, factory work, or culinary arts, offer faster rewards and clearer progress. These jobs allow people to see the outcome of their work within days or months, unlike game programming, which demands years of dedication before results appear.

For someone with average academic ability like my nephew, careers in food technology, chemical engineering, or cooking could be more suitable. These fields allow individuals to create real, useful products in shorter cycles, offering more attainable satisfaction and success than the highly demanding world of IT and game development.

*Readers' opinions are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress' viewpoints.