Concept vs Contest

Starting programming is a lot like learning to swim. You don't just dive into deep water without learning how to float first. Similarly, in programming, before you dive into the fast-paced world of contests and competitive problem-solving, you need to build a strong foundation.

The first step is learning the concepts. Understand how to analyze a problem, break it down logically, and translate it into flowcharts or pseudocode. This step is crucial—it teaches you how to think like a programmer.

Once you've grasped the core ideas, it's time to practice around those concepts. Build small projects, solve beginner-friendly problems, and focus on applying what you’ve learned. This phase is all about building confidence and fluency.

Only then comes the contest phase—where you dive into competitive programming. With a solid understanding and enough practice, you’ll be ready to tackle problems under time pressure, think creatively, and optimize solutions on the fly.

So, remember:
Concept first. Practice second. Contests third.
Just like swimming—you learn, you train, and then you dive.