• I'm thirty and I just started my second education in IT. My first degree is a university degree in the humanities (sth. like BA and MA combined). Although I was always keen on technology, my view was restricted to the one of a user. I never even considered "going" IT, since I thought that must be a mind devastating profession only the smartest can master. Up until I found out there's not one profession in IT. And then I was wondering what it would be like not be a user anymore. That was the point I started tinkering with computers and smartphones. But still I was afraid of maths since I never have been good at it. So from my perspective what keeps people from getting into IT is the way they are taught the basics in school. I never had any programming classes (though I passed the equivalent of the A-levels in the US in 2003), only some Excel classes supervised by a teacher who could have learned his share from some of my classmates, but never admitted to it.

    Maths seemed useless for me when I was sixteen. When I am now confronted with a problem which can be solved with maths, I see the use of it, but back then it was way too abstract. So teach the kids practical approaches to maths and some more will consider a career in IT. And don't build up a math monster. That's just my personal opinion based on my experience.

    btw I'm glad I made up my mind and "went" IT.