Ever felt STUCK on a coding problem?

Back in grad school, while working on my third computer science degree, I hit a wall. A massive, insurmountable wall of code. I was working on a challenging project assigned by my PhD advisor—someone I deeply respected and had worked closely with for years. It involved code generation in compilers, basically writing binary and automatically generating assembler from a new language.

At the time, I was desperate to prove myself. This project felt like the opportunity. I poured over textbooks, scoured online forums, and even spent countless hours on my couch (fueled by cookies and sheer determination) trying to crack the code with a brilliant friend who was working on the same project. We were both stumped. The pressure mounted, the deadline loomed, and I started to doubt everything. I vividly remember the sinking feeling in my stomach, the frustration bubbling up, and the taste of those slightly stale cookies turning bitter in my mouth. I even questioned if I was cut out to be a coder at all.

This problem—feeling completely lost and overwhelmed by a coding challenge—kept showing up. And the worst part? Everyone around me seemed to say, "That's just how coding is. You just have to power through."

This went on for weeks. I felt defeated, my confidence plummeted, and the joy I once found in coding was replaced by anxiety.

Then, something shifted. I took a break, baked more cookies (a surprisingly effective coping mechanism!), and decided to approach the problem from a different angle. And you know what? I finally figured it out! In that moment, I had a huge realization: no one actually knows all the answers. Even the most experienced coders get stuck.

That was years ago. Since then, I've helped hundreds of students master the four pillars of problem-solving, a simple yet powerful process that can unlock your coding potential.

What I’ve found time and time again is the difference between coders who thrive and those who struggle isn’t about innate talent or memorizing every language’s syntax. It comes down to having a structured approach to tackling coding challenges.

That’s why I’ve made it my mission to help aspiring coders like you rapidly develop the problem solving skills you need to succeed. I’ve met too many talented people who stay stuck in a cycle of frustration and self-doubt, constantly Googling for answers or relying on ChatGPT without truly understanding the underlying concepts.

Which is why I’m showing up and doing something about it. I'm excited to share this journey with you.

More tomorrow,

Dr. Emily

P.S. Shoot me a text at (848) 600-5622 and let me know if you've also struggled with feeling lost and overwhelmed while coding, especially when Google and ChatGPT fail. I read every message!