Java as first programming language? My first programming language in school was Terrapin/MS Logo (that thing with the turtle) and then Python, IIRC.

And yeah, Maven is an absolute pain. My last workplace used it and it makes me extra glad that I don't work there anymore.

I'm more partial to OOP, though. I just find it easier to organise data and functionalities by class/object and not make a mess that way, I guess. Plus, I mainly do gamedev/adjacent stuff these days, which largely seems to be object-oriented, at least when it comes to the most popular engines.