I lost my path along the way...

[Megabelle]

Hi guys,

Not really sure what's going on. I've never been someone to reach out to other people, but I've kinda fallen into a heap this year and I can't really talk to anyone at the moment for advice.

So I have my last university exam for this semester tomorrow. I've already had to withdraw from 2 units in week 7 because I couldn't meet attendance requirements. So out of the 2 units I'm sitting exams for, I found out yesterday that I failed the only other unit I'm taking this semester. I've never failed a subject in my life and I don't really know where to go from here. Because of that one failed unit, I can't continue my degree, as it's a pre-requisite, so I'm stuck in no-man's land for a semester, trying to work out how I messed up so bad and how to tell my family. I don't know if I can make it through tomorrow's exam, and I'm terrified and I feel like I have no direction anymore. All of my motivation has vanished and I'm not even sure why I'm still doing this course.

[james1]

Hey megabelle,

You haven't messed up at all. You are struggling and all these things are very natural reactions to having a massive internal struggle.

I dropped out entirely of my honours last year for the same reason.

If we put things back into perspective: a semester is a short amount of time. Some people do 4 years of a 5 year degree then decide they don't like it and quit. I have been working in a bank for 4.5 years and I want to change career paths. You will find something else to do with your time and it will be just as useful.

I noticed that you haven't really spoken much about why you stopped attending. If you don't mind me asking, was there anything in particular that made you lose your motivation?

James

[Jessicatherese94]

Hi Megabelle,

It's important to remember that just because you failed a course does not mean you have no direction. I'm sorry that you wont be able to go to university next semester, but even if you can't do that one subject are there other subjects you can do? Sometimes even having one subject a semester can help. As James said being one semester behind is not really a bad thing. It sounds like you are doing the course you want to do, you just might need some time away from it and the semester after next you'll come back better than ever. My friend took 8 years to finish a 3 year degree, it really is okay to fail a subject. There are plenty of things you could do on your time off - work, start a new job, learn a language, do an internship in your field etc. Think of it as an opportunity to move forward. If you explain to your parents that you've been having a difficult time and need their support over the next six months I really hope they'll understand. This isn't the end of the world I promise. When I'm stressed out I like to think "Will this matter in a year? In five years?" Having six months off university probably isn't going to change anything in the long run. I really hope your exam went well today.

[Scott76]

Hi Megabelle

I know how it feels to all of a sudden be off the course you expected to be on at University. I was doing my teaching degree (many moons ago) and for health reasons had to basically drop out of a whole semester. It put me a whole semester behind the friends I had been going through uni with for three years and made me question what i was doing and whether I wanted to do it anymore. I went back the next semester - didn't know anyone in any of my classes and just put my head down and basically held my breath to get through it.In the course of that next year i made choices and took courses that I might never have made or taken were it not for that break that was forced upon me. I've had a couple of what I call my 'lost years' or 'lost months' in my life' - time where I wasn't on the track I thought I would be. While sometimes I think of them with regret and don't think I would be the person I am now, or the professional I am now without them.

Make sure you talk to your uni about your options. I had a friends who basically got kicked out of uni (he chose to go on a last minute island holiday rather than sit an exam) but by talking to the uni and promising to knuckle down they made all sorts of allowances for him.

I hope your exam went well. Try not to sweat the though of the six months, to quote the film A Few Good Men, "Its nothing, its a hockey season."

[MsPurple]

HI Megabelle. I am sure you will do ok in your exam tomorrow. I have struggled with uni to and came very close to failing a subject (when I mean close I got a 50). I would try not worry about it until you cross that bridge. My friend failed a pre-req subject and they assisted him in a way to complete the rest of his degree. They helped re gig his subjects. So try not stress the course co-ordinate will help you out.

One thing I should let you know about is a service all universities have called disability services. It is for anyone with a disability, whether it is physical or mental. If you have a diagnosed mental illness then you are eligible to sign up. I signed up in my final year as I hadn't heard about it until then. I found them very helpful. They can help you organise an academic plan that will suit you. I know people who had a flair up in their anxiety and depression when they had a few assignments due, they discussed it with disability services and were able to get an extension. They offer more services such as counseling etc. I suggest you look up your disability services at your uni and contact them.