<p>It absolutely is not too late. There are hundreds of good schools out there and most don't require straight As. You obviously have academic talent. Get the help you need to sort a few things out. Proceed with college apps if you want (and can get it together now) but the most important thing is taking care of yourself. One of the great things about the US education system is you can go to college anytime. I left HS early to go to college, felt directionless and dropped out, worked, travelled and attended 3 different colleges before I got an undergrad degree, then eventually got a masters degree and a doctorate. Your whole life is ahead of you. I think most of us are saying take a deep breath and move forward one step at a time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I'm depressed, I'm not sure about what...Nothing bad has ever happened to me. But still I spent all day crying.
[/quote]
groovin, The most important thing is that you find a way to relieve yourself of this sadness, this feeling that you are becoming a failure, that things cannot work out.</p>
<p>Not being "sure about what" is causing this is par for the course. I don't want you to feel you need to understand the cause or the solution. That is what professional help is for. I respectfully disagree with Northstarmom that this is an indication that you are not ready for college.</p>
<p>It's an indication that you MIGHT be depressed. For that, you can get help. You will probably need it to be from a doctor and a therapist/counselor so they can determine if there is something physical going on and consider whether medication would be valuable.</p>
<p>I am hoping you will talk to someone to help you figure out what is wrong and why you are feeling like this. Someone who can help you move out of this. THEN you can make decisions about your future. Not while you are mired in this feeling of a downward spiral and confusion.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Remember, friends, that while I said:
"Anyway, my advice is to strongly consider not applying to college yet, but instead lining up some gap year possibilities which could be doing something like Americorps, City Year (in several major cities, and is probably the top Americorps program), working a job (any job will help you learn about yourself and the world) or doing something like an immersion language study program abroad."</p>
<p>I also said:</p>
<p>"I also suggest that you discuss your situation with a licensed psychologist or social worker who is experienced with teens with senioritis and similar issues."</p>
<p>As always, when faced with a major life decision and problems that are interferring with your life, it's always good to get professional advice, not just rely on advice from well meaning strangers including me.</p>
<p>I also thoroughly agree with the person who suggested a medical check-up. It could be that a physical problem (that may indeed be a very easily cured physical problem) is causing your symptoms.</p>
<p>None of us knows for sure whether your problem is: depression; a physical problem that's not depression; or due to not yet being ready to go to college next year. However, getting professional help can clarify things for you. Please also realize that even though you feel like a failure, in reality, things aren't that bad. You've hit a bump in the road, but your life is definitely not a flaming wreck.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I actually went through a very similar situation a couple months ago. I would suggest taking an honest look at yourself, and why you aren't doing your work. For me, I couldn't stand wasting my time and stressing myself out in classes that taught me nothing and in effect stole a large portion of my day.</p>
<p>While I certainly wouldn't recommend this for everyone, my solution was to drop those specific classes, thereby relieving my stress and giving me lots of free time to explore my interests and spend my time on something I find worthwhile. Before I had been an IB Diploma Candidate, now I'm Certificate; do I have any regrets? Even though I could've just held out until the end of the year and graduate with the full diploma, a culmination of my hard work over the past three years, the fact that I won't be getting it doesn't even bother me a bit. Spending the hour I would've been in calculus reading in Barnes and Noble about the stock market, politics, history, and just pleasure reading, has been very rewarding - not to mention that I can now focus much more time and effort upon the three classes that I kept: 20th century world history IB, english 7-8 IB, and a philosophy class called Theory of Knowledge.</p>
<p>It's amazing that while throughout high school I've constantly been fighting against myself while attempting to get through classes that wasted away my interest in education, while now I can actually enjoy school; I'm not even sure when I last truly enjoyed school, it certainly hasn't been any time in the past 6 years.</p>
<p>I eventually came to the conclusion that by forcing myself to trudge through work, memorizing information for tests, and attaining a moderate level of understanding of material, I am not making good use of my time at all. I may hate calculus at the moment, but in three years I may discover a reason to pursue it, or just become very interested in it; by spending my time on studying topics of interest in great depth now, I learn much more and have a lot less stress than if I divide my time between many different topics, achieve a mediocre level of mastery and hate half of them while doing so.</p>
<p>I don't think it's worth living a miserable life simply to accomplish a goal that may or may not be even what you truly want (going to dartmouth for example). I doubt that I'll fail in life because I chose not to take a fourth year of spanish, third year of biology, or calculus in high school; however, by not being exposed to various ideas, intellectual enlightments, or experiences that I may have in place of those classes, I may seriously hinder my future potential. Even if I didn't learn much in my extra time, the simple fact that I'm able to live a much more stress-free life, is a great advantage, both emotionally and physically.</p>
<p>Find the true root of the problem: have you lost interest in being a top performer at school? Are you overwhelmed by pressure to achieve?</p>
<p>Once you discover the thing that's plaguing you, do something about it! I was lucky to be able to follow this course of action as I had already received an acceptance to my state university with a large scholarship and supportive parents who are more concerned with my growth as a person and well-being than anything else. Even if I had kept the classes, my choice for college wouldn't have changed, my scholarship wouldn't have changed, and I seriously doubt I'd be happier or more learned as a result.</p>
<p>I used to like my classes when I was getting enough sleep, doing the work, and etc. But not so much anymore.</p>
<p>I called my mom, and she told me that everybody feels like this sometimes, and that we'd talk when she got home. But it's 2 AM and she's not home yet, and meanwhile there is school tomorrow, and I got nothing done again today, but mostly because I was upset and got a headache and so neaseous that I couldn't even drink anything from crying so much, then took a lot of motrin and went to bed...So, I will probably go in to school tomorrow and fail two tests while getting a lot of mean glares from classmates/teachers, or just skip again. There doesn't seem to be a good option.</p>
<p>groovinhard, it's not too late! You've taken the first step by admitting you know something is wrong and wanting to get back on track. You have gotten fabulous advice from some very educated people here. I tried to read most of the messages, but am due to leave for my morning walk soon, and had to start skimming. If someone hasn't already mentioned it, please see your doctor and share what's going on. Bloodwork may indicate something such as a thyroid problem which I know from personal experience can cause lots crying and feeling like you can't get anything done because you're exhausted, but knowing in your head you have so much to do! You've already taken a big step by acknowledging there is a problem. Follow up on it and know you've got lots of support here! Good luck and big hugs to you!!!!</p>
<p>It could be "everybody feels like this sometimes", but it sounds like it's beyond that. And I certainly don't like to see you suffer like this. You shouldn't feel that you have to, or that you have to "tough it out" or figure it out for yourself.</p>
<p>Won't you consider going to Health Services <em>today</em> and talking with them? It could help you a lot. I do so wish you would.</p>
<p>We are all thinking of you, groovinhard, and want to see you feel and function better as soon as possible.</p>
<p>Well, my mom was pretty reluctant to talk about how I was feeling. She said she didn't know what I could do to get back on track, except that I was going to school every day next week, and that she'd make sure I did all my homework this weekend.</p>
<p>I am thinking maybe afterschool, since I don't play a sport anymore, I should sit in the library until around 5 and do my homework there. If I stop working and just sit around, I'll look lonely and like a loser, so that will be my motivation to keep busy. Maybe then I'll get into the habit of doing my work, and will be less stressed and depressed. And this weekend I'll make a list of the meals I'll prepare for myself during the week, so I'm not eating microwavable pizzas all of the time. And I'll set my curfew for 11, whether my homework is done or not. So, I'll see what happens. Maybe I'll start to cheer up if I start to eat better and get some sleep. If after a week everything is going well, I'll try to get some time in to run, too. </p>
<p>Thank you all for the encouragement and the suggestions; I tried to keep those in mind when I thought of the plan, so...I hope it works.</p>
<p>Hey groovin--the unexplained crying, the drifting, the lack of interest in good food or exercise, the inability to sleep, the inability to focus on a task such as an essay are all classic symptoms of depression.</p>
<p>Please see a doctor as soon as you can and get screened. If you end up with a depression diagnosis please seek help from a qualified counselor--cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown by double blind studies to be effective in treating moderate depression. Meds may also be helpful depending on your situation, but I really do think that young people can benefit from CBT --it is short term, generally results based, and focuses on teaching you problem solving skills to cope with the situations that create depression.</p>
<p>Good luck--I'm glad you decided to talk to your parents.</p>
<p>perception is often reality, so OP you are probably becoming a failure.</p>
<p>Tough love!!</p>
<p>ALWAYS the hardest part of doing homework is getting started. But in order to even get a homework assignment, you obviously have to be in class. Start there -- go to school everyday.</p>
<p>Next while in school, I know that you have some time in class to work. All you need is a 10 minute block to start an assignment. USE THOSE 5 AND 10 MINUTE BLOCKS!!! You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish. Then after school, you will know what still needs to be done, and you've already completed the hardest part ... GETTING STARTED!!!</p>
<p>Next, get some exercise ... even if it's only running a few lines. Try a bike ride, you will have time to clear your head and you will feel invigorated. I think if you start being a little more active, the nutrition and appetite should take care of themselves.</p>
<p>The hardest part is starting a schedule and sticking to it. Don't make yourself a schedule that is impossible. Just study a couple of times a day for about 45 minutes. Set some time aside for studying. Period. Even if you just sit at your desk and do absolutely nothing for 45 minutes, you will soon learn that that 45 minutes is a total waste if you do nothing. So before very long, you'll say "What the ****, I might as well crack a book while I'm sitting here."</p>
<p>Ain't senioritis a b**ch!!!</p>