(I think the question is better phrased using "computers" more than "computer science", since the latter is quite specific (assuming you refer to the former))

(I think the question is better phrased using "computers" more than "computer science", since the latter is quite specific (assuming you refer to the former)) Regarding myself, I've realized it immediately when I was a child, and I saw a home computer for the first time. After getting one, I quickly got into (small) programming, by reading the manual. I still have the same feeling of curiosity, decades after :) I take the chance to express that in my opinion, the absolutely most important thing as a passionate SWE, is to put oneself in the conditions to maintain and feed that curiousity (within the limits of a realistic job and commitment). I can imagine that it's easy to get bored and/or burned out.