Dealing with depression / 1.77 GPA, help please.

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I am sorry for the lengthy story, but I couldn't fully explain the whole thing without writing so much..</p>

<p>I have always been optimistic and motivated until last year, when I suddenly developed the feeling of depression, and it has gotten worse during the last quarter, which I basically failed all of my classes with 2 Fs and 2 Ds. </p>

<p>I went back to China during my winter break and had problems with dad, my parent got divorced when I was very young and I was raised by my grandmother. It is hard to talk to then about my feelings and I usually just hide it from them. My father later remarried and had a son. When I went back to China, I had a very hard time, maybe its because that we haven't seen each other in years, but I feel like a complete outsider from the house, he wont even talk to me and always judged me. </p>

<p>After I returned to school in the winter quarter, this serious depression started, it is the first time I have ever experienced this and I don't really know what to do..I did not pick up my friends' calls, I did not respond to my advisor, I lost interest in everything and cannot concentrate on studying. I skipped a lot of classes and cries easily all the time. </p>

<p>It was such a hard time and I wish I will never go through this again, but during the final exam period I have realized that I need to interact with people in order to feel better and release the stress, but it was too late. </p>

<p>The problem is that I am a sophomore but have not taken much major related courses yet, and need to repeat the failed ones. I am not sure if I really fit into the business major, my interest is in art & design, but I just don't really know about myself...</p>

<p>I talked to my new advisor today and broke down in tears, I could not help. She sent me to the health center, and I have been diagnosed with depression and will start my counseling session this week. </p>

<p>Now I am having options about what to do</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Take one quarter off, get a job/internship, have a rest, take some classes at local CC, return to school in the fall or go to another in state school.</p></li>
<li><p>Take easier classes this quarter, repeat some failed ones, and meet with the psychiatrist regularly. </p></li>
<li><p>Be a part time student, get a job while taking 12 credit courses, meet with the psychiatrist. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>My mother suggest me to take one quarter off and live at home, but I don't really know if I will really rest from not going to school. I mean I dont have any problem with the school, but its depression which troubles me. Im afriad of become more behind with one quarter off.</p>

<p>Any suggestions or past experiences? Greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>I feel a lot of empathy for you. I wish your situation gets much better. Depression hits everyone, but it is very good to see that you are planning to better your life, let alone even recognize your depression. I would suggest a mix of number 2 and 3. I believe that you should both work and study, but definitely ease off the difficulty and number of classes (although it seems from your explanation that school is not the difficult part). I think you should also work to know where you want go in your education. Work experience cannot supplement a good education, and vice versa. You need to work (but not work too much, it might get overwhelming) to understand your own work ethic and interests. Also, I suggest that you retake classes, as these classes will seem easier the second time and can really boost up your GPA. </p>

<p>Depending on where you want to go (a state school? graduate college?), GPA might mean more or less to you in the long run. But the most important thing is psychiatric help. Your emotional and physical stability are definitely the most important things you need to focus. This is just my un-educated, inexperienced, teenage-sourced advice, but I hope I helped a little. I really hope you get better! :D</p>

3

<p>Hi, glassmask. I also had many emotional troubles when I moved to America. However, I hadn’t got to the point of depression. I suggest you to take option 2 since you can have time to recovery yourself. DON’T TAKE A QUARTER OFF. you will left behind if you take a quarter off. Maybe try to take 3-4 classes each semster. Go to Math/English Center to look for help. Also, always talk to people around you. don’t lock yourself up. Because that will only cause you more troubles. I hope you have a successful future ^_^</p>

4

<p>Hi Dubblebubble898,</p>

<p>Thank you very much, you are been helpful : > I just had a talk with my mother and she agreed that it is better to take easier/repeat some classes this quarter and treat my depression instead of drop out of school, so I can boost my GPA and clear my mind a bit. Then I can plan my summer with job/explore my interest, since with such a low GPA I won’t be able to transfer to any other good intuitions…Thanks again, I will do my best.</p>

5

<p>Hi Vanille08,</p>

<p>Thank you very much, I think I will go with plan 2 + 3. I will also try to be more open and active, really hope I can be back to normal as well, thanks!</p>

6

<p>Yea, I know how you feel OP… Depression is not easy to overcome. But you can’t afford to be depressed if you realize that time is precious and everyday that your depressed is probably a day wasted! If you are close to twenty years old, realize that close to 1/4 of your life is already in the past. Time stops for nobody and will always keep on rolling, so make the most of every single day.</p>