I don't disagree with either of the previous responses. However, when I first started using Perl, I did a lot of things that had already been done, (I did not know it at the time). I learned a heck of a lot about how things work by ignorantly repeating what was there for the taking. Frankly, I still do sometimes. It forces me to dig a little deeper and really think about what is going on. When I get stuck, I then go find out how someone who knows a lot more than me went about it.

The advantage is that I not only know the answer, but understand the question.

Just a word of friendly encouragement...