Hey everyone,

I hope you don't mind me sharing this post here, even though it might not directly relate to Codeforces. I'm feeling a bit lost and could really use some advice.

My name is Shakib, and while I've been diving into competitive programming (DSA), my ultimate life goal is to become a machine learning engineer. I'm passionate about AI/ML, and before I officially start university, I want to immerse myself in this field to stand out from the crowd. I've got about a year or so before I begin my BSc program, and I'm torn between continuing with competitive programming to strengthen my problem-solving skills or delving straight into my AI/ML journey.

I'll admit, I'm not doing great in competitive programming right now, and it's starting to get frustrating. I'm really hoping someone can help me make a decision on what's best for me, considering my ultimate goal is AI/ML. I've scoured the internet for advice, but every platform seems to offer a different approach, leaving me even more confused.

Additionally, if I decide to continue with a bit of machine learning learning, what's the best path for a beginner like me? Should I start with libraries like numpy, pandas, matplotlib, etc.? I'd appreciate some guidance on the best hierarchy to follow, even if it's just a tiny bit!

I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thank you in advance for your help!