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It doesn't have to be a startup, though that's one possibility. Rather, it just has to be something where you can go from idea to reality and hopefully get a few users along the way.
I hated programming when I was in CS, then I discovered products and realized that I love solving problems. Code is a tool for me to solve problems.
I find that if I fit these things into my schedule regularily I have more energy - physically and mentally - to put up with the nonsense of reality.
But what really keeps me going is the fact that I know nothing. Whenever I get bored and arrogant I google something that I think I know (say some signal processing or math concept) and just dive into the rabbit hole. It helps if it's work related.
That's my take after several decades of doing this. Sounds like the passion maybe went right out, didn't it? No, it didn't. It's like a marriage. Sure, those first few years it's hot as lava, fsckin' like rabbits every day, hate to leave for work because it's time away from him/her. But that calms down, and frankly I think we should be glad it does as I don't know how sustainable such a relationship would be. Same with careers. Oh, sure, I was a coding maniac for years after I got access to a computer. But like a marriage, eventually the honeymoon ends and you settle into a nice, reliable, sustainable relationship with your work.
Just roll with the times you're not so passionate about it. There are times I don't like my wife very much, but I stick with her. There are times I don't like my job very much, because every job has some shit work or some drudgery. And even the coding can become drudgery some times. Because after twenty years, how many times do you think you'll have hand-crafted a for loop that iterates over an object collection?
But after twenty years of writing SELECT statements in your sleep, you can "level up" to where you easily slay the SELECT boss and move on to more challenging endeavors. And I guess in the end, that's what gets me out of bed: familiarity with my tools allows me to keep things interesting by moving on to new challenges. Right now I'm working on Programmable Logic Controllers. Before the interview I had to look up "PLC" on Wikipedia. I'm learning lots. :-)
While I'm currently living off savings on a beach, I'll have to find a job again in the next twelve months and it's not something I'm stressed out about because I know I can find remote work again.
Building stuff is one of my hobbies, and this hobby is marketable. But I am more than someone who can write code. I have other hobbies too that my programming hobby pays for.
Also, university is a grind. I recommend finishing it rather than being tempted to let your emotions drive it. But, just like in the rest of life, remember to have fun and take the opportunity to meet people.
It helps if you’ve had other jobs. Pretty much all jobs have downsides and therefore “suck”. I think loving your job is a dangerous phantasy sold to CS grads to get the them work longer. It doesn’t mean you have to hate every minute, you can enjoy parts of it. But passion should be reserved for hobbies outside of work (unless you work for yourself). Be a professional - do it for the money mainly, and don’t put up wit…
"Love your job" has been sold to me thousands of times. Yet, I think that people that say they love their job lie to themselves. It is also very unhealthy.
Let's do a quick game. If you had all the money in the world, would you still do your job? Probably not.
I highly advocate for balance in your life. A job needs to be done properly, and once in a while there is nothing wrong about doing a 80 hours work week, but don't drink the koolaid and work away for a dream that is not yours.