I’m taking this biology course that is required for my major. I’ve been struggling since the beginning which was about 2 months ago. I feel like such a failure since school is the only thing I’m focused on right now and in about 2 weeks it’s ending. My grade is at an all time low at a 50%. Ever since the beginning its been really hard, the material I do not get, even though I study. I have a tutor but nothing is working biology is just very hard I don’t know why. The problem is my first test I failed miserably and ever since then I’ve been really unmotivated and hopeless. I’ve never failed a test with an F.
We have to constantly work in groups in this college course. And it’s hard for me because I get really anxious around people and it’s been nothing but a struggle. We have to constantly be in group settings, but I’m usually kind of quiet but I do speak my mind at times. My teacher keeps giving me low scores in seminars and group labs, but he doesn’t even know that I try so hard. My lab partners take over so I never really get to participate I just watch. It really doesn’t help when he’s like glaring at me during a lab…
He wrote on one of my assignments that I need to participate more, and that I just sit and do nothing which is not true I do speak! I’m a pretty funny person and I like to crack some jokes because everybody is so serious during group settings. I do not get along with anybody in the class. Thing is he doesn’t even know what I go through on a daily basis, it’s really hard sometimes to even get out of bed and go to class but I still go!
Today I took my fourth exam out of 5. And I thought I did good but did horrible the same as the other tests. I have my last lab tomorrow I just don’t want to go because I’m just tired of trying. Yes I have spoken to him about my grade but he gives pretty lousy advice. The only reason I keep showing up is so that I can be more prepared next semester because I’m going to retake the class. At this point it’s impossible to go from a 50% up to a 79% I’m just scared I really don’t want to go to class tomorrow. 
any advice would help very much appreciated
I’m so sorry you are having such a hard time. I have OCD and anxiety can just make school so much harder. And you are definatley NOT a failure. It’s just a bump in the road. I’m just a high schooler so I don’t really know what to tell you about the course. I think seeing a therapist for the feelings of anxiety and hopelessness might help, if you aren’t already. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk anymore.
Is this general bio 101 you’re speaking of?
@annana This thread is several months old and OP hasn’t been online since they posted it.
Sorry for the late reply. Yes it is general biology. But in my college its called general Bio 109. I retook the and failed again unfortunately but this time with a 63%. Planning on taking a break from college and retaking this course at a later time. It’s just frustrating…
Be sure you are in touch with Disability Services in case they can help. You can usually get extended time testing, for one thing. You could get a recorder to record the classes and then go back to your room and “teach” the class to someone, even an imaginary class. Write down things you don’t understand and go find a source - maybe in person or YouTube - who knows it and explains it well. One thing that could help a lot is to check the professor ratings on RateMyProfessor.com. Pay attention to what other students say about the prof. There may be one whose style fits you a lot better. And try not to take more than 12 credit hours per semester so that your focus isn’t spread in too many directions, creating that overwhelmed feeling. This is a rough time, but it’s not the end of the road. Do something during this break that helps build your health and confidence. Get regular exercise, eat healthy food, get good rest. Connect with family and friends who are encouraging. Write down your strengths and keep building on them. Work to earn money and learn how to manage it well. You mentioned not getting along with others in the class. Try to get in the habit of finding interesting things about others, even if you don’t like every single thing about them. That feeling of dislike or even anxiety can appear like a chip on your shoulder and make you seem uncooperative, when it really isn’t how you’re feeling inside at all. The future can be good! Best of luck to you!
After failing general biology twice at your school, I would investigate other options. I would take the class during the summer as my sole class. That way biology would not compete for your time and energy. Perhaps, you and the biology department are over it. Personally I would take the class elsewhere, but would verify the biology class at an alternative school would satisfy the requirement at your college. Perhaps your biology requirement could be taken at a CC.
Like you, I hated group projects. Find a school or class with a different or more formal format. Fortunately, I attended college at a different period.
I see that you wondered if you were depressed because of difficulty with biology. Please spell because correctly. I can see that you are upset and very frustrated… Personal pain and feeling drained are part of being very unhappy, but that is different from a diagnosis of clinical depression, You need to decide whether you need to consult a psychiatrist. Disability Services could provide assistance if you have a clinical diagnosis. You might find tutoring and other help through the school learning center or even the science department. Talk to your advisor about on-campus opportunities to master biology.
It is neither the teacher’s nor your classmates problem that you are very quiet and reserved. You need to find a section or course that fits your personality. In college, faculty are unlikely to make a big alteration in how they taught a class and graded class participation. Learning from each other is a common and popular style that might have encouraged your classmates to enroll in your section. The teacher is not obligated to understand your difficulty getting to and participating in his class. I suggest regularly that students visit the college library that makes sense to the student and use it as a supplemental text. Look for a good lecturer or even someone who drones on. It’s better to feel bored than get creamed because of class structure.
Time off may be a good option for you. You need to plan your strategy for biology and compare how your grades were in other classes==ok or dragged down or more difficulty to you anticipated. You may want to think about whether your major or school is right for you personally or academically. If there is a problem, move on to some place that is a better fit for you. You don’t want to dig yourself deeper at your current school if you are not a good match. You didn’t make a lifetime commitment and could be burned out now.
“Please spell because correctly.” What a good idea to nitpick what is clearly a rushed typing error by a depressed and anxious student coming to this site for help!
BTW, your own screed is replete with glaring errors in grammar and punctuation. Please use tenses correctly. Please don’t end sentences with commas. When quoting others, please use quotation marks, as in “Please spell ‘because’ correctly.” Please do not use the word “to” when you mean “than.”
If you are a kettle, please don’t call the pot black.