<p>I've posted this in the college life section, but I feel you, as parents, may offer extended insight, as teens are sometimes unable to "look outside" the period of adolescence. </p>
<p>"I used to be a straight-A student who would literally cry if she got a B, but now I've turned into an apathetic student who could care less about her future. I'm currently a senior, and I got excepted to my college of choice (UCSD), but only on account of the student I used to be. It may be because of moving four times because of Hurricane Katrina and having to graduate with people I barely know, but, nonetheless, I truly want to be "motivated" again. My doctor put me on Prozac 3 months ago, but I stopped after a month becaues it was making me tired and even more apathetic; regardless, I've figured out that pills won't work for me (well, at least anti-depressants don't). I really don't think I'm depressed, though. I just don't care anymore.</p>
<p>I'm being serious about this. Any other students experience this just before college? I really don't want to make a decision now that I'll regret in the future."</p>
<p>Any parents experience this when they were teens or have children who experienced this?</p>
<p>I stopped caring about about high school in the same way. That's seniorities for ya. But if you stopped caring about college too, then that could be a problem...</p>
<p>lol yes, that's my problem. I got into college, but I only applied for my parents. I could care less what happens to me, let alone whether I go to college or not... and that's definitely not how I used to be</p>
<p>What are your goals? What is it that sparks you or used to motivate you? What's your passion? Perhaps if you can figure out the answer to these questions you can get back on track to the way you used to be. Personally, I have seen students who graduated from high school as valedictorians with a full IB diploma and plenty of honors/awards fall into a rut during their freshman year in college. When they realized the direction in which they were headed (after receiving extremely humbling grades), it took them some time to again find that passion (or a new one) that motivated them in high school. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to get back on track with your education and ultimately your life.</p>
<p>RefreshI - Your post shows a desire to address this issue, and IMHO that's the first step to actually doing something about it. So congrats on your own insight. I do have considerable first hand experience with this. Proud Husky is exactly right -- the issue will disappear once your motivators return. (Anger was my spark, but I'm not necessarily recommending it.) Some time away from academics will help, new friends will help, some grinding low-wage job will help, etc. Unfortunately these take some time to work their magic. It may be necessary for you to get through the Fall Semester by embracing the mantra that "until I figure out what I'm supposed to be doing in life, THIS IS IT!!!") Good luck. Godspeed.</p>
<p>I don't think what you're feeling is all that unusual. While my husband never worried much about grades, he did stop caring about school for awhile early in college. I think the Vietnam War was an important event for many middle class college kids coming of age - especially those considering the draft and what it might mean in their lives.
He dropped out of school after his sophomore year - actually just stopped going and received a bunch of incompletes.(not the best way to do it)
He went to work. He wanted to get out into the world and do something, although he didn't know what. He tried several entry level jobs until he found something he liked well enough to stick with for awhile, which was rigging sailboats. Working with boats, and with his hands outside gave him a lot of time to think.
After three years, he went back to college with renewed motivation, and finished up two+ years in one. He rediscovered his passion for learning, but it took three years of doing something completely different to get to that point.
Maybe you need a break from school. Only you can know what the right move is for you - but don't let other's expectations dictate your path. This is YOUR life and thinking about how to make the most of it is very appropriate for your age right now. Good luck, dear - don't feel you are strange or weird to be having doubts, because you're not. It sounds like you've been through a lot of changes, and you may just need o stop and assimilate them for awhile.</p>
<p>There are plenty of kids who are putting their head down to grab the spots at great schools without being coached. That is your competition. By the time you are in the right mood to work your opportunity will be gone. That is what life it about sort of natural selection. Just do the work don't psychoanalyze it. The admissions people don't care one way or another you are just another essay and set of grades. So if you want to get out of your room and go to a cool school cut the lazy BS and get to work. Sorry to be so harsh but welcomd to real world early. At some point everyone gets a bad break you either work harder or get pulled into a mudhole.</p>
<p>hmmm - I'm sure you mean well, hedoya, but going to college right after high school is not for everyone. Believe it or not, the schools will still be there two, three, five years from now, if the time is right to attend them then.
I don't think refresh is being lazy - in fact she/he is doing some important work - insightful work- that will pay off down the road. Some people never take the time to look inside themselves - and wind up at age 50 with miserable jobs and lives they wish they had handled differently.</p>
<p>Take your time, refresh. You are young and growing.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I used to be a straight-A student who would literally cry if she got a B, but now I've turned into an apathetic student who could care less about her future.
[/quote]
I'm delighted that you no longer cry if you get a B. Education is about the learning, and not so much about the grades! You are young, and I really think you should focus on the NOW, not the future. Think about what it is that you enjoy doing, and sign up for a few classes in that area. Are you at all excited about the social aspects of college? New friends? Parties? Fun times? If you are not, I would suggest you hike back to your doctor and look into options for therapy and possibly medication, because that would seem to be a sign of depression. If you are just feeling the garden-variety "don't know what to do with my life" kind of issues, you may find that the issues disappear when you are actually in the college situation. Or not. So also consider some other options like working for a year or two or taking a "gap" year. :)</p>
<p>Does anyone have a link to that thread about the young woman struggling with depression? The thread chronicles her first public admission of possible depression through her new emerging confidence and positive outlook. As I told the OP in a similar thread in College Life, I think it might be comforting to read how another student found her way out </p>
<p>I simply can't remember enough of the details to do an effective search.</p>
<p>One possibility to get motivated again is to join a research group at UCSD to do unpaid volunteer work. Those research group tend to be full of motivated people and if you pick something interesting you will likely be positively influenced as well.</p>
<p>Refresh, From what you posted it seems that you are reeling from dislocations and multiple losses (home, friends, school, community, treasured possessions, familiar places). You've moved from the Gulf Coast to San Diego, and you don't know many people there. I would find it surprising if you were able to continue along your high-achieving path without a detour or two. I'm short on practical advice - part of me says that the best thing for you would be to move forward to college and make a new life as soon as possible, and part of me thinks you should take some time to recover from your ordeal. </p>
<p>hedoya, Try to imagine how you would feel if you suddenly lost much of what makes life meaningful.</p>
<p>Inverse, that sounds right, although a search for that name leads to an "invalid user" error message. Do you know where the thread is?</p>
<p>Also, as someone in college life mentioned, Refresh may be suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Many people displaced by Katrina are dealing with delayed depression.</p>
<p>OP, it does sound like you may be experiencing a form of depression. The fact that one trial of one anti-depressant didn't help doesn't mean much. Sometimes a different med will work better, but you might also really benefit from some "talk therapy" to help you deal with the changes and losses you've been through.</p>
<p>Good grief, you've been all over the map because of a hurricane and you wonder why you don't care about what you used to? The fact that you got to graduation means you are an extraordinary person. Don't feel guilty about your depression. You will make it! When you get to school, try to find a group who can understand where you are coming from so you can talk.<br>
Antidepressant medications are famous for taking some time to find the right one and the right dosage for you. Don't write them all off if the Prozac didn't do much. THere are several different classes of drugs that all work in different ways. Please try again with the doctor.
PLus, what you are feeling is normal for even seniors who are graduating from the same school they started in for kindergarten.... change is scarey and you are all being thrust out into new things. One very common way for your body to deal with stress is to tune it out and to "not care".</p>
<p>I'm not an expert on this, but it seems to me that anti-depressants are appropriate for depression that is caused by abnormal brain chemistry. This doesn't seem to be the case here. This young woman was not depressed until her life was disrupted by an external event. Wouldn't it make more sense to see a therapist for help dealing with the losses and getting through this temporary situation, than to take a drug?</p>