I think there's room (and need) in the world for both types of developers; ones who just stick to the curriculum and do internal Java apps for big companies and

I think there's room (and need) in the world for both types of developers; ones who just stick to the curriculum and do internal Java apps for big companies and ones who venture off the beaten path. Neither one is better than the other, and each person has their own way of feeling like they're learning and growing and leading a fulfilling life. If it's woodworking or music that make you happy, great! If it's programming at work and then going home and programming even more that make you happy... also great!