I don’t mean to sound like a cry baby.
But I’ve been stressing about this since the beginning of my junior year in high school.
Freshie and sophomore year I struggled with depression and didn’t say anything about it till the end of sophomore year (I refused to believe I was depressed due to stigma in the Latino community). Due to this I had to deal with it on my own for the most part, and I regret it. I didn’t do homework and it weighed me down a lot. I had no motivation and no energy. And here I am, Junior year with a 1.5 GPA. I seriously regret not seeking help.
I’m scared I won’t be able to get into a good college and my future is just foggy right now.
What can I do? Will colleges still accept me if I explain myself?
I’m trying to better myself but im struggling once more due to the fact that I feel like I’m getting nowhere.
I’m starting to fear that I will disappoint my parents.
Please, give me advice, I really need it at the moment.
You said that you did not seek help in the past. Are you seeking help right now? Therapist, counselor, etc? In order to be able to use depression as an explanation for your grades, you will most likely need clinical documentation and the support of your high school counselor.
Holy ****. I’m so sorry for everything that has happened. If you are a junior, there is still time to raise your GPA a bit so that is an option. Also, community college, despite the stigma, is a really good option because you can prove yourself there and then get into a good college. I’m pretty sure colleges would understand the circumstances but if your GPA doesn’t rise drastically I really think the best option is a community college. Don’t be afraid of community college, it can be a really good stepping stone on your way to success and it can also help save a ton of money.
Despite everything I said, remember, your health, INCLUDING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, should always be your number one concern. Don’t stress too much and get help if you need it. Don’t worry about disappointing your parents, they should understand. College doesn’t dictate your entire life so don’t stress too much. Going to community college can allow you to show colleges your true self which will allow them to realize what caused your low gpa in high school and you will be fine. But even if that doesn’t happen, remember college isn’t anything.
I hope everything works out for you but please seek out help if you need it. I’m also here if you need any advice.
I was in therapy for a while. I do speak to the school psychologist still, they tell me to go in when ever I start to feel low again. Might have to pay them a visit again soon.
You need to keep getting help. Odds are good that you will start at a community college, and that is fine. Plenty of students do that.
The most important thing is your state of mind. It’s great that you’re seeking help now and that you plan to keep that up.
One thing that seems to be contributing to your bad feelings is the thought that you won’t be accepted into a college.
Please rest assured that you will get into SOME college somewhere, if you persist. There are colleges for all levels of academic achievement.
One common way to relax this year, and then to move forward when you’re ready, is to also be aware that college is out there waiting for you. There’s no time pressure. As long as you keep your eye on the prize of college, and you don’t get married, have a child, or otherwise create complications in your life, you can and will go to college. You can take time between high school and college to figure out what you want to do in the world.
Whether you take gap time or not, you can still start slowly and work your way up to whatever level suits you, it that helps you feel better.
As an earlier person posted, community college is a great place to start. My spouse started at CC and he’s now a professor at a major university. Many great writers have started in CC, for example Laurie Halse Anderson. She took gap time, worked on a pig farm in Europe, started at Onondonga Community College in NY state and transferred into Georgetown. Here’s her bio – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Halse_Anderson
CC offers the flexibility that may make you more comfortable with college. You can start with one or two classes to try things out, for example. Or you can start in a “transfer program” of some sort. Most CCs have programs DESIGNED to get students ready to transfer to a four-year college or university.
If you consider a gap year, here are some things you may want to do with that time–
Student Conservation Association – they have internships, with housing, and https://www.thesca.org/serve/young-adult-programs
Workaway–this is a website that helps you find “volunteer” positions around the world, or close to home. The host provides a place to sleep and sometimes one or two meals. You work for 4 hours a day, about. https://www.workaway.info/
Coolworks – this website lists jobs around the US, that pay – https://www.coolworks.com/
Volunteer.gov – work in federal lands, some with housing. – https://www.volunteer.gov/
Have you seen a psychiatrist? They’re ones that prescribe the medicine, do testing/screening and give a proper diagnosis. With a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, you’ll have something to show the colleges. Also, with an official diagnosis, you can go to your school counselor & principal and ask for a 504 plan. A 504 plan can also be accepted at colleges and can help you get extra time on ACT/SAT.
I understand about the stigma attached to the label. But just b/c you aren’t label with depression, doesn’t mean you don’t have it.
I haven’t looked too much into this, but here is something about teaching English overseas: https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/teach-english-abroad-without-degree
Backup plan for me - go to a community college and then go to a college in Europe.
good luck!
There is no stigma to attending community college. It’s maybe the one institution in our society that functions to give nearly everyone–people with little money, re-entry students, kids who for one reason or another didn’t excel in high school–a chance to go on and be very successful in society. With your history, I don’t think you should stress out about trying to get to a 4-year college right now. Plan on going to community college–but beyond that, start today on setting yourself up for success in the future. You have the rest of your junior year and your entire senior year to focus on learning the material in your classes, so that you are prepared to succeed in community college when you go. Focus on mastering critical reading, reasoning, and writing–these will be useful no matter what you go on to study or do. Math at a certain level is also very important–You don’t have to take calculus or be a wiz at complex algebra, but being able to make quantitative judgments is important. Also, start thinking concretely about what interests you and what you want to become. Talk to teachers, adults, a variety of people, about careers and lifestyles. Then try to translate this into an intended college major, or at least a few possible majors. You have 1-2 years to go through this process, so don’t get too stressed now. But if you can get some clear ideas on career/major before you start college, this give you a much better chance of finishing and succeeding overall, because you can then make sure that all of your coursework is focused on meeting the requirements of your major, and you won’t waste time and money on classes that don’t get you closer to your goals. “Begin with the end in mind.” I agree with all of the above recommendations about getting help for your depression. Perhaps working steadily towards a goal, and realizing that you still have lots of potential and lots to look forward to, could help you manage the depression and set you on a path toward a future that you want for yourself.
I am a senior in high school and I happen to suffer from depression as well. I am also Puerto Rican and black so I understand the stigma you are referring to within the Latino community. Though we are two completely different people I am going to try my best to offer you some advice or insight. Your GPA is very important but if you are wanting to go to college you have to start doing better as far as grades. Will it bring your GOA up much? Probably not, but you can stand out to colleges in through your ACT or SAT test scores or in other ways. During the fall of your senior year apply to colleges you would like to attend but you may have to attend a community college so you can better prepare yourself academically in case you want to transfer to a different college. You can never go back in time and change things; the only way to change them or make them better is to do your absolute best in anything and everything now so that things turn themselves around. When my depression was at its worst I tried antidepressants but stopped taking them because I personally felt that they did not work for me but that does not mean that they will not work for you. Therapy is always an option. Do not go to therapy a few times then stop because you feel that it is pointless, if you feel that it is not working then feel free to explore different therapist. It takes time to find the right one. Exercise is something that helped my mind get healthy and back on track when my mind would feel foggy. Actively talk to your parents about any new feelings, it may end up putting less pressure on you. No one is perfect but you can still pick things back up and give it all you have, main thing you need is support and motivation. Think about what you want and go for it. I believe in you, good luck!