I always used to excel in high school. I graduated top of my class and started college on a valedictorian scholarship and 27 credit hours. I felt hopeful and confident that I’d get through college easily in 4 years or less. Four years later and that’s not the case. For the first two years I did well with As and Bs while studying environmental science. I switched my major after two years to mechanical engineering and during my first semester of my third year, I became very depressed due to personal issues in my life and lost all motivation. I totally stopped going to school towards the end of the semester and dropped one class and failed 3 classes. Following semester, I passed all three that I took. During the summer, I attempted to retake cal 2 (was one of the first three I failed) and ended up failing it again. I’m now in the first semester of my fourth year and I already feel sure that I am going to fail mechanics of materials. I also failed a test in engineering economics today although I still believe I can pass this class. I just feel so hopeless right now and I feel that I’ve already ruined my future. I’ve never struggled this much to understand my classes yet I’ve been so low on motivation and fail to push myself to spend the time I need to learn and do well. I don’t want to leave this major. I want to get my degree in engineering. I just don’t know what I need to do to get myself back on track and become as motivated as I once was
Your hopelessness and lack of motivation could be your depression resurfacing. Do you have a counselor? If so, talk to them. If not, go to your school’s health center and get a referral.
Your life isn’t ruined. Your academic life may need some repair/reevaluation. But first, you need some mental health intervention. Go to you campus counseling center NOW.
Go to the Counseling Center today! Have someone go with you if you need support
Do not worry! You are clearly really intelligent and capable. Engineering is a challenging major and you have to be at your best to be able to meet the challenge. If you are hitting a low point in life, of course you will struggle with the material.
I completely understand the hit to the ego and lack of confidence that comes with not being what you used to. Sure, some people get Cs then improve to get As, but it is pretty gut-wrenching to go in the opposite direction. Getting my first C made me question the image I had of myself as a straight-A student.
Get a tutor even if it is hard to find one or possibly expensive and get through this semester! You can make it through. If your grades are low at the end, focus on how you tried and learned! After all, education is about, well, getting educated.