Is this really worth it? (College, Motivation, Stress, Family)

Jill

I'm fresh out of high school, and in my first semester of college. The semester is ending, and I'm failing all but one class. Why? Stress. I'm probably one of the most stressed people you'll meet. I raised my sisters on my own, had a mother addicted to every drug under the sun, and now live with my pushy grandmother. I didn't want to go to college right away, but my grandmother forced it on me. I understand, I really do... But lets look at where I am now.

Math - I'm good at math!!! But with all this new technology they're making us use to sign in to do tests and homework, I'm falling short... really short... I didn't take online classes for a reason.

Speech - I've never been good at speaking... We've had 3 speeches we had to present already. All of them I spend months on and got crap grades. The time I spend on these speeches interfere with the time I have for homework.

English - My best subject. But we have a big paper every week. Needless to say, because of my speeches, only one of them has been turned in on time.

Psychology - No problem, my only okay class.

I'm in tears every night because of it, and my stomach's in knots every class. Not because I care much about my grades at this point... but because I know my grandmother is going to lecture me,make me feel like crap, tell me to apply for a hundred more jobs, then call my father, grandfather, and aunt to give me the same speeches. I have to go my second semester because my grandmother's afraid she won't get her money back for the laptop she bought me.

I have no idea what to do. I'd move out, but I'd have family badgering me every day still. My family is a family of worriers and expectations... And I feel like a failure...

Anonymous

I signed up for this site in order to make a post just like yours, looking for advice because I'm failing some classes. Well, it turns out that I have some advice to give to you, instead.

I failed out of college almost two years ago. I was on medications for ADD and depression for the first time, I couldn't afford to eat most days, and then my father passed away. I gave up. I started working full time, thinking that that was my limit - I could never follow my dreams because I just wasn't good enough.

I got fired from job. It was a sales position, and I just wasn't comfortable with my company's manipulative tactics, so I couldn't succeed where they wanted me to. After that, I began looking for another job, living in my mother's house at 22 years old.

Then, on a whim, I signed a lease with one of my friends who just transferred to the school I failed out of. Now I'm working at getting my grades up at a local community college in order to re-apply.

The thing about you is, YOU HAVEN'T FAILED OUT YET! You'll only be on academic probation, which means you still get loans for next semester and this one! Just retake one or two of the classes you failed this semester, next semester, and you can catch back up in no time. Don't make the mistake I did and give up without even trying. My friends are all out of college already, and I feel four years behind. I don't want anyone else to feel as much of a failure as I do. You still have a chance, man. Good luck!

Lenny

College is not for everyone and at least for right now, it sounds like it is not for you. Do not fall into the trap you should go to college if you can, the last few years we see that leaves many with unbearable debt and no better off employementwise. Have you considered military service or maybe with your raising your siblings you could be a nanny. Whatever you do you need to figure a way to repay your grandmother for the laptop, and if you remain with her, you need to pay rent.

Is this really worth it? (College, Motivation, Stress, Family)

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