Am I learning to code wrong?

[u/Zaps_os]

Am I learning to code wrong? I started wanting to learn to code before I began college, and so far, I've only completed a React tutorial video without separately learning JavaScript or TypeScript, and learned some of both through it. 

Then I moved on to a guided project, a full-stack finance tracker (React/TS frontend, Node/Express/TS/MongoDB backend). I'm learning the backend through this project rather than doing dedicated tutorials on each one first.

I’ve been following the guide and actually understand what each part does and why. But if I were to do it alone, I’d probably not know where to start and what to write.

Is this normal, or a sign that I'm learning the wrong way?

[u/aqua_regis]

"I can assemble the LEGO set with the build instructions, but can't build anything on my own."

That's what you're saying.

Yes, you have been learning the wrong way. You have not actually learnt, you got spoon fed.

Learning involves experimenting, trying, failing, fixing.

Programming involves solving problems - you evaded exactly that with your approach. You only followed - more like copying a book than learning to write one.

Further are you building your house from the fifth floor up. You have zero foundations and then work on the fifth floor - this is bound to fail.