Freshman that needs help sorting everything out and getting out of slight depression.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'd like to start this off by saying that last year, in eighth grade, I really did not give a cahoodle about school besides Geomety H (which was a high school course, which of course due to my mindset, I ended up with an 89.9...In 7th grade I took Int. Algebra H which was also a high school course and got an 88.9 in that class as my final grade for other depressing complications). I was basically that kid that was used to being in a higher level class for everything, but wasn't this year. I basically just sat around bored and didn't try for any of my classes besides math and achieved an A in all of them. For my science class, I didn't even do three or four projects and still got a 96%. </p>

<p>Well, that all changed when the freshmen year attacked (if you get that reference, here's ten internet points to Gryffindor). I had signed up for all honors classes as I should have, signed up for PLTW Intro to Engineering (BIG MISTAKE), yadda yadda. Thinking I was still hotstuff like in 8th grade, I tried the methods I did in 8th grade with a little more effort put into my work....
That...just didn't cut it. At all.
My parents are already mad at me for getting two Bs on my transcript, abolishing the idea of me ever getting a 4.0GPA ever. Unfortunately, more might be added.
Another thing I'd like to say before I bring up my grades - I thought I could handle a bunch of ECs along with the change from Middle to High School, which was another big mistake. I joined the Debate Team, Knowledge Bowl Team, and Swim Team (which I was in last year as well). I also did the City Swim team a bit before the Swim season for high school started. Basically, I clogged all the time I had with these ECs, and didn't have anything really organized for my actual classes. Terrible idea.</p>

<p>Anyways, my grades ATM are quite....uggh. </p>

<p>Algebra 2 H - 90% (about to be 88 after a bad test I took)
Bio H - 90% (subject to change, higher or lower)
PLTW Intro to Engineering H - 81% (BIG mistake to take this class. At first it seemed okay, then I found out I hated everything about it. Not only that, I heard the final is extremely difficult. This course was more or less aimed towards juniors in my district as well :P)d
World History - 94% (not too worried about this. It's a regular class as there is no honors option available)
Chinese 1 - 99% (yay a good grade)
English 1 H - 93% (Meh)</p>

<p>What's really bothering me about these grades is how borderline they are. Not only that, my IeD class has a ton of missing assignments for some reason or another (which may make the grade go further down) My first three classes in the day are so close to being Bs and Cs, which is NOT what I want at all. Nor does my family. My parents already have huge expectations for me, as 1. We're Bengali and 2. My sister got a 4.0 and graduated salutorian. Having these grades all drop would be a nightmare. </p>

<p>Anyway, this has all been racking at me and killing me the past month or so. I've lost a ton of motivation and don't really know what to do anymore. I've really just escaped into the internet, forgetting about all of this stuff, and then feeling extremely guilty every night. I don't get much work done at all normally, and I'm constantly tired. </p>

<p>I'll bet you're tired after reading this wall of text as well, lol. Sorry for the really long intro, I just wanted to get it all of my chest. </p>

<p>And oh boy, finals are next week -_-</p>

2

<p>Don’t sweat it. You’re a freshman? You’re sweating about a 93? Don’t let it all get to your head. Relax. You’ll have plenty of time to deal with stress later. Even if you got all B’s in your freshman year it wouldn’t be that big of a deal in the long run, because most schools don’t even count freshman year! </p>

<p>I know freshman year can be a difficult time–it’s really meant to let you transition from middle school to high school, and for many that’s really challenging. It means changing study habits, attitudes about your grades, etc. If you were more relaxed in middle school and you did well, and in high school you’ve been stressing out about it all and it’s negatively impacted you, then I think that’s your problem. </p>

<p>My advice to you is to just relax. Don’t completely slack off–though I don’t expect you to–and take your classes seriously, as you appear to do. But don’t stress over everything. It’s a time to get your bearings, gain a little insight about what you really want to do with yourself–don’t worry about every little grade.</p>

<p>A 90, a 94, a 96, or a 99 for that matter, don’t matter to admissions people. To them, they’re all A’s, and that’s what’s important. You have an 88%? That’s fine. If you can, try to bring it up to an A. If you have a 91, try to keep it there or above. But don’t sweat it. If you can’t, then what are you going to do? That’s how it turned out–you got a B. That’s hardly a blip, especially in your freshman year. </p>

<p>Here’s a cautionary tale from yours truly that you should really pay attention to:
In my family, on my mother’s side especially, we hail from a long line of worriers and depressives. I was no exception. If I got so much as an 85% on a test, I lost my mind. In my math class last year, I had an 88% that no matter what I did would not go up (or down, for that matter). I stressed out over it, and you know what happened? I began to feel worse–mentally and physically. I was so worried about the little things, I lost sight of the big picture. I was so absorbed in maintaining that perfect GPA (like you, my family is also a long line of achievers–two Stanford alums, and a whole load of professors and the like–so I couldn’t screw up), that I forgot to take care of myself. I became worn down and just couldn’t take it. I wasn’t ever outright depressed, but I was rarely outwardly happy. But then, around the second half of my junior year, I changed up the rhythm a bit. I didn’t study less or more–I studied smarter. I spaced out my sessions, I paid less heed to the little, insignificant things and focused on the big picture. If I got a B, then I got a B. For me, math has never been the easiest, so getting a B in an honors/AP math course was like mana from heaven. I was so proud of myself. My attitude about school hasn’t become apathetic at all–it’s just more laid back. I’m less stressed, I’m happier, and best yet, I’m more confident. </p>

<p>So that’s that with that–just calm down. If I were you, I wouldn’t study so much (which, I know, is a forbidden phrase here on CC). Here’s what I mean–and I don’t know if you do this already–but instead of studying in three-hour blocks, study for an hour and take a half hour off. Watch some television. Listen to some music. For god’s sake, do something unproductive for a while. Then go back to it with a fresh mind. If you cram like I once did, you’ll just stop absorbing material and your studying will be ineffective. </p>

<p>As for your family, don’t concern yourself with what they did. If your sister was salutorian, great for her. If that’s something you also strive to be, then go for it. But don’t just try to achieve because your family wants you to. Achieve because YOU want to. You’re a freshman and you have THOSE grades with THAT courseload? I’d be proud if I were you. Keep up the drive, because you’ve got it. But don’t stress so much. School isn’t just about the destination–it’s often mostly about the journey. Relax. Adopt a more laid-back study habit. Don’t slack off, though–just strive for a balance of work and play. </p>

<p>THAT’s how you achieve. </p>

<p>And if you’re going on the internet and trying NOT to stress out, I’d stray away from boards like CC, because as good and helpful as they are, they do anything BUT relax your nerves. I’d recommend some kind of music stream. Classical works for me, but maybe metal’s your thing. </p>

<p>I hope you got some good information from me, good luck on finals—RELAX—and I like the TLA reference.</p>

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<p>And one more thing–with EC’s–don’t take so many that you can’t find a couple you like. Colleges have more than enough presidents and captains of every club and team ever. Find a few activities you really enjoy and pursue those. They like depth more than breadth.</p>

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<p>You have a serious problem if you’re becoming depressed over ONE 81.</p>

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<p>um.</p>

<p>okay. um.</p>

<p>OP CHILL. have an ice cream sundae, go to your happy place, and come back once you’re calm. and after this thread dies NEVER COME BACK ON CC. not until JUNIOR YEAR anyways.</p>

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<p>a few B’s will not doom you to an unsuccessful life. that’s the first thing you have to understand. considering all your EC’s and your rigorous coureload for a freshmen, I’ld say you’re doing great. and you don’t need a 4.0 GPA to get into a top college.</p>

<p>I also took IED last year. it must be really different at your school, because my class was really relaxed. and mostly a freshmen class xD the final really is easy if you’ve got a pretty good feel for the material. plus you get a cheat sheet that you write. feel free to PM me whenever you need help with the class :)</p>

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<ol>
<li>you’re not depressed you’re a spoiled brat.</li>
<li>i hate you
sigh</li>
</ol>

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<p>that really improved the situation Weeknd</p>

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<p>I didn’t read the posts , not sure what the “situation” is, only read the Original Post.
regardless the point is to stop crying and try harder and you’ll get the grade you earn/deserve and thats all you can strive for</p>

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<p>Alright, I get it. After calming down and letting it all get out, I realized I was being a little *****. Sorry if I came of that way (which I did). Just letting it all out kind of helped me out there. And thanks CommanderKeen, though I don’t really know what you mean by “most schools don’t count freshman year”. I’ve heard that’s the case for a few universities, but there are many that look at your overall rank and GPA, which starts by how you do with your first few high school classes. That started for me in 7th grade, and the grades weren’t spectacular lol. </p>

<p>I guess the main thing that’s been bugging me is that I know I could have always done better for pretty much everything, and that the mistakes I made were all small and could have been fixed easily. Oh well, no point crying over spilled milk. </p>

<p>Anyways, if anyone can help me in this post, that would be great. I learn better online, yet I don’t want to go that way completely. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1447766-dual-enrollment-campus-public-high-school-online-high-school-worth.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1447766-dual-enrollment-campus-public-high-school-online-high-school-worth.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>And this is why 90% of high schoolers hate us.</p>

<p>Seriously. CHILL OUT.</p>

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<p>Oh my gosh, I now officially love being me.
See, I didn’t know that a few Bs was going to be the ruination of me, so now, when I get Bs in math and foreign language I jump for joy.
The difference here is if you feel like you can do better. I try my hardest in all of my classes, so the B+ on my recent Modern Hebrew test was pretty much equivalent to my friend’s A++ as far as I’m concerned. If you feel like it’s your slacking off that’s the problem, then you’re probably just being honest with yourself when you’re disappointed. You need to act on that and work on doing better- tips on that below.
Another factor seems to be your parents’ high expectations of you. It sounds like they’re justified in thinking that you can do better, and you need to tell them that you realize that, but you’re not clear on if they really compare you to your sister or if you compare yourself to her. Either way, that is such a dangerous attitude. My younger sister is, not to have false modesty, not as smart in the classroom as I am. Just academically- she has more EQ and charm than I could conjure up after seven years of Hogwarts- but she, my parents and I have learned never to compare us because we’re nothing alike.
Another problem I’ve seen with a lot of smart kids is a) imagining high school as an extension of junior high and b) therefore not knowing how to study because in junior high it was too easy but no more. Both are problems I an many people I know have had to overcome- and yes, it can be overcome.
My personal 5-Step Plan is as follows:

  1. Take a deep breath. Repeat after me: “This is HARDER than high school. A grades are NOT automatic. I need to improve because I know my potential is more than this.”
  2. Figure out a notetaking strategy. This is important- I needed to learn how to do this in high school because I think all of my 8th grade notes totaled up to about three pages. You may have already done this- these are not all necessary for everyone- but it’s important in the general sense. That applies to ALL of these steps.
  3. Figure out a studying strategy. Again, another skill that many smart middle schoolers just somehow forget to learn. If you’re really lost as to how or your method just isn’t working, ask a teacher for advice on how he/she recmmends studying for his/her subject.
  4. Swallow your ego. Wash it down with a chocolate milkshake (I love chocolate milkshakes). Yes, there may be kids smarter than you, and there’s no shame in asking them for help if they seem to have more of a handle on what’s going on than you do. Who knows, you can probably help them too, even if THEY won’t admit they need help either.
  5. Repeat #1.</p>