Suggestions

Maybe XOR encryption is a little hard for a beginner.

Hmmm.. try asking the user for his name then output each letter one by one, not as a whole.

Extremely easy.

try asking for a name and then count the words.

Try getting your program to compile. Work up from there... >_>

Make a program to do something useless. Like I usually do.
Example. A program that tells you 'you're wrong' unless you input the words "I r gay".

Prove the string theory with C++.