<p>This is my first semester of college, I'm currently enrolled in a Film Production course. I was excited when it first started, but now its getting to me. The college I am in is over like a 2 day drive from my house, I'm in a new town, with no friends, and my stress level is through the roof. It just started with one missed assignment, and now it is four.</p>
<p>I can't sleep at night, I have to sleep after my classes are done. I'm over eating way too much, and spend all day in my dorm room because my mind is just so clouded over.
I have no money for laundry because I spent it all of stupid stuff, so I have to use a credit card, but I have no way to pay it back! </p>
<p>My motivation has just disappeared, I think I came here too soon after high school, and I blame myself entirely. </p>
<p>How do I tell my mom without her freaking out. If I stay here for another semester I guarantee I'm going to have a mental breakdown. Please help.</p>
<p>Duuuuude, first of all, take a chill pill. This is your first semester of college. Things will be hard. You’re far away from home in a new place. Of course everything’s going to be unfamiliar. </p>
<p>Tips for finishing this semester:
So you missed a couple assignments. Big deal. It’s just the beginning of your college career. How much are those assignments going to cost you? Talk to your profs and see if you can still turn them in. No, you’re not going to get straight As this semester, but as long as you pass the classes and improve substantially later, it won’t matter. </p>
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<li><p>As far as sleeping goes - why can’t you sleep? Stress? Overeating is bad, so try not to keep much food in your room. That way, when you’re required to leave your room to get food, you won’t eat so much. Do you work out? Working out will reduce stress too.</p></li>
<li><p>Money issues - talk to your mom! Seriously, lack of laundry money is NOT something that matters so much. Explain to her that you were stupid and ask for a few more quarters. Given how much you’re probably paying for college, an extra $25 to do laundry for the rest of the semester isn’t going to be much of a big deal.</p></li>
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<p>Then, once you’ve got your life under control…
Are you going home for Thanksgiving? That would be a good time to have a face-to-face conversation with your mom about how you’re unhappy. Does she have any idea you’re unhappy right now? If so, it may not be a complete surprise. Otherwise, just explain to her calmly about what’s going on. Don’t be overly adamant and say stuff like “I MUST transfer” or “I can’t survive another semester!” Be reasonable (at least on the outside). I’ve noticed parents freak out more (at least, mine do) when I’m overly stubborn/pigheaded about something. If I seem reasonable to compromise (even when I’m not), they tend to freak less. </p>
<p>Basically, use Thanksgiving break as a time to explain that you are unhappy and why. Then take a semester (Spring '10) off to reevaluate what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. At the moment, just focus on getting through the semester without totally falling apart. Good luck!! =)</p>
<p>“I think I came here too soon after high school, and I blame myself entirely”</p>
<p>Don’t blame yourself. I’m Very Impressed that while everything is kind of crashing at once, your mature enough th see that it was to soon for you dedicate yourself to college. Most bright people make as many mistakes as anyone else, they just try something else that works better (for them). Senator Noodles had some great advice.</p>
<p>You’re on your own, though I’m sure there are others out there that have experience whining and crying. The rest of us who are shaping up our lives away from home have no sympathy for you. Yes you came to college too soon, clearly you have a lot of maturing to do. </p>
<p>College is no time to throw in the towel, I mean how do you expect to survive in the real world, where there really aren’t any do overs. Everyone has a tough time… I’m 2,500 miles away from home, in the second largest city in this country, and I knew nobody when I came here. I don’t even get to go back for Thanksgiving. You do what it takes though, that’s growing up. </p>
<p>Don’t go home, you’ll forever regret it. Fight on! It’s a testament to your worth and your abilities. I’m sure in life you will have to face more difficult challenges, if you give up now, where will you find the strength to overcome those?</p>
<p>Before going home, go to the counseling center and talk to a counselor. It may be that some of your current problems are easily fixable. Your situation isn’t unusual for freshmen.</p>
<p>qzar, how rude. The OP came here for advice not to be told he/she was whining and crying. God people here tick me off so bad sometimes. At least it’s not one of those “WAHHH I HAVE NO FRIENDS BECAUSE I’M A COMPLETE LOSER WAHHHHHHHH” posts. The OP is being very mature in evaluating his/her situation. </p>
<p>OP, I am going through some of the same things, but I am very close to home. Talk to your school counselor, it sounds like you may have depression. As someone who has dealt with depression all of her life, I can tell you that it is a serious, yet treatable condition. </p>
<p>OP, do you live in Canada (as it says you do)? In that case, I’m assuming your Thanksgiving break was in October. Did you go home? </p>
<p>It’ll be ok. If you really don’t feel like you can handle it, take a year off to regroup and get some help. It will be much better in the long run.</p>
<p>OP, I am also going through some of the same problems; how you feel now doesn’t necessarily have to be how to feel a few weeks from now though. I’m sure you’ll have some time when you’ll have less homework than usual, and you should use that time to get counseling, catch up on sleep, and do something fun like see a movie or play. Don’t let the fact that you don’t know anyone prevent you from going to the things you’d like to go to, and if you are lucky you’ll meet some potential friends there as well. As for homework, unless you think there might be a late policy (maybe you’ll just lose some credit), just cut your losses and do the remaining assignments; no one’s first semester is perfect. And unless these were midterms, I doubt 4 assignments is that bad; I’ve missed way more and still gotten decent grades.</p>
<p>At least try to stick with it the rest of the semester given there’s only a month or so left. Or at least there should be…</p>
<p>Perhaps you just gave yourself too tough of a semester for your first semester. A film production course sounds like something that should wait until at least second semester or even second year- well, depending on how demanding of a course it is. I think you should stick around for the rest of the semester and then do some serious thinking and talking to people about this over winter break. If you decide to stay in college give yourself a lighter load next semester- take general educations classes and, if needed, only the very basics of your major unless there’s something you absolutely have to take because it’s the only time it’s offered.</p>
<p>Don’t burn bridges. You are actually learning a lot of new things about yourself now and you’ll work through it. Try not to flunk out. Even D’s can help down the line. If you still don’t want to return after semester ends, take a leave of absence. My daughter had hellish first semester; did local community college, got sick of home and was really glad to be back a year later.</p>
<p>Living at home while at College= Not Animal House.</p>
<p>Although you can get really good grades while living at home simply because chances are you won’t have that great of a social life…but always choose to live on campus over living at home unless you have a medical or personal reason.</p>
<p>I still say stick with it, just a little while longer! You might be surprised how things will turn around! Don’t rush into anything! I saw your other thread about the e-mail- definitely don’t drop out before talking to your parents! Talk to people at school as well. Life in the real world is worse than life in school. Don’t give up!</p>
<p>Im really afraid about being homesick when I go away next year and lately this year has been tough dealing with stress im afraid about what next year will bring. Hopefully I’ll be able to adapt well into new social situations. Since ive lived in the same town with the same people my whole life I havent had to do much of that… fingers crossed</p>
<p>I hope you are able to sort through your stress. It’s only the first semester of freshmen year… it can be very overwhelming… I remember my first semester I was totally stressed and ended up spending all my time worrying about my academics and began to slack on other things such as work and friends but then I met some people who were going through the same thing and we work through it and help each other and now we are all on our last year at CC and working together to transfer… it’s hard at first but I’m sure soon you will meet great people who are probably feeling the same way you are and you can find comfort in each other.</p>