I started programming at age 8, and finally went to college for it at age 22 (although not an actual computer science degree). That was almost 30 years ago.
Yes, there is something to learning in your own way, in the "play" explorative style that humans are so very well adapted to.
However, there is definitely something to be said for proper training by a professional. A big part of my early career involved unlearning bad habits, learning the compsci tools that my peers already had, and learning to think holistically.
It's a lot like learning guitar. You can learn it yourself, and some people can even really excel that way. But maaaaaan, when you've been trained by a professional, the effort required to play well goes WAY down thanks to the centuries of knowledge, skills, and techniques you're taught. All the bad habits you DON'T pick up are so worth it.
There will be talented, creative people coming from both paths; professional instruction isn't going to diminish that. All it does is amplify what you already have.
Yes, there is something to learning in your own way, in the "play" explorative style that humans are so very well adapted to.
However, there is definitely something to be said for proper training by a professional. A big part of my early career involved unlearning bad habits, learning the compsci tools that my peers already had, and learning to think holistically.
It's a lot like learning guitar. You can learn it yourself, and some people can even really excel that way. But maaaaaan, when you've been trained by a professional, the effort required to play well goes WAY down thanks to the centuries of knowledge, skills, and techniques you're taught. All the bad habits you DON'T pick up are so worth it.
There will be talented, creative people coming from both paths; professional instruction isn't going to diminish that. All it does is amplify what you already have.