delicious programming

So I'm a science major trying to get into the health professions field, yet I have a thing for programming.

I started off by learning sepples but then quit after I heard about how much bloat exists on that language. I switched over to C and read K&R C. I read some other books that deal with data structures and stuff, so I think I have an adequate grasp of the language and basic programming concepts. How do I apply this knowledge?

I'm not a computer science major or anything IT related, but are some fields I can join to exercise this hobby of mine? Should I try assembly next and maybe do some inline assembly code? But even then, how can I apply this knowledge?

Is network programming any good? Or how about open source stuff?
Help me /prog/

I heard about how much bloat exists on that language.
They are right, but they probably can't tell you why. Programming is often more about knowing the limitations of the language you are using than the features. Getting involved in C++ and understanding what makes it a bad language and why it is bloated is one of the best things you can do for yourself and will increase your job prospects immensely. Not only will you understand C++ better than any self proclaimed heretic touting it as bloated and unruly, but you will be able to wield it with an iron fist should the need arise.

/prog/ has more than its fair share of language evangelists screaming "LISP!!" or "HASKELL!!" at anybody who passes by. It is important to understand they are as bad as the Java programmers they try to undermine. There is a time and place for every tool and every language. Knowing the limitations and benefits of Sepples will help you make a well informed decision on which to use to solve a given problem and make you a much wiser programmer than those who see the world as nails.

http://www-d0.fnal.gov/~dladams/cxx_standard.pdf
svn checkout svn://gcc.gnu.org/svn/gcc/trunk ./