Struggling with HSC

[viviwr]

The HSC exams are coming up very soon but I'm struggling to find the energy and motivation to get up, let alone study. I've basically spent the past week lying in bed and doing nothing, except for a couple of questions from a past paper. I know I that desperately need to study but when I try I can't concentrate at all and my brain feels like it's moving through sludge. It's frustrating and I'm sick of feeling like this. I know the HSC isn't everything, but I still feel like a huge failure. I think it's disappointing the people around me and not meeting their expectations that bothers me a lot as well. I just really want the HSC to be over.

[Croix]

Dear Viviwr~

HSC is extremity worrying, loaded as it is with such influence on one's future, and many people struggle under such pressure. You are no alone in finding it so difficult to even make a start. I suspect your other hassles, staying in bed, inability to concentrate and so on are related to this.

Do you think a couple of different sorts of outside support might help? The first being to go see your GP and find if you have, at least temporarily, an illness such as anxiety that needs attention.

The second is with the study itself. A study-mate, study-group or even a tutor. I've found as soon as someone else is involved too my motivation, performance and concentration does improve. Even if that is only for one subject the effect can 'spill over' into the others.

I'd like to know what you think

Croix

[geoff]

Hello Viviwr, thanks for joining the site and do feel very sorry for how you are feeling and I do remember my days doing HSC, it wasn't easy, especially when I had a twin who found it no trouble to study.

For English, we had to read books, I didn't like doing this, while my twin loved to read, however at the time there was a film, a movie on at the theatre, so instead of reading the book I went to see the movie, that gave me a boost.

Try and find another place to study, change where you feel as though as soon as you see your desk, then stops you from studying.

The problem is people want to and expect to get high scores, just to impress others and to get into uni studying medicine, becoming a lawyer or a builder etc, but remember all you need to do is pass, and I say this because what you want to do now, may certainly change later on in your life.

My aspirations were too high and with this can come feelings of 'I have to', this is where it can block your desire to study.

Have a talk with someone, a teacher, a school counsellor and/or your doctor, there will be many people who will sympathise with you, just as we want to help.

Geoff.

[viviwr]

Thanks for replying. I have been to the GP and have an appointment with a psychologist in a few weeks time (after my exams). I also have a tutor for English which helps a bit but I still have a lot of difficultly with concentration and motivation. Maybe I'll try and get together with a couple of friends this week for a study group and see how it goes, thank you for your suggestions.

[Guest_543]

Hey Viv,

Here are some things that have helped me.

First give yourself a break, feeling like you should be studying all the time will drive you crazy and studies show that students that study less but have breaks (not 15 mins, more like going to dinner) and continue to socialise during study periods get better marks than those who do 16 hour library sessions. So if your not going to be studying anyway then take the day off and go out and do something you would usually enjoy. Even just getting out of the house for a walk.
In the same vein set a limit to how long you are going to worry about studying. So say tomorrow you set study hours from 9-5, even if you get up later the limit is still 5. And when 5 comes around whether you have studied or not you agree not to bother for the rest of the night. People don't realise how much procrastination has to do with anxiety, so give yourself a break from it.
Also I've found considering the worst case scenario useful. I was frustrated with an assignment and decided I didnt want to do it, and not doing it would mean having to redo the course, or not finishing my degree, and then I would have to get a worse job.. And that actually is all bad, but it wasn't as bad as how I was feeling about it, thinking it through created certainty which reduces anxiety. In your case if you do poorly in your exams there are university bridging courses (and studies show that students who dont go straight to uni go better anyway), IQ exams you can do for mature age entry, and a world of jobs that dont require a HSC. After I considered my worst case I could do my assignment because I wasnt so concerned about how well I went.
It has also helped me to first go through and figure out what I need to do, so write a list of chapters to read, etc. It's pretty easy and it gets you doing something and you can get the satisfaction for crossing them off. It also reduces uncertainty by quantifying the task in front of you.
Also keep in mind how you feel can change quickly. I like to get in and figure out what I have to do, and then do the easiest part. Say just perusing one chapter. I often find then that I dont stop. Nothing helps motivation like starting.
Also what others have said above, dont worry about your scores, just half arse it. If your anything like me then youll go much better relaxing about scores but doing some study then you will being to anxious or depressed to study at all.

Hope that helps.