This is my second time at a college, though this time it’s a 4-year with a summer program. The college is SUNY Plattsburgh and their Summer session B began today, though despite the fact that I already just got here, I am already stressed out about it. I keep asking myself to give it time (and yes, I will do my best to stay here), but I feel that the education system regarding High School and College isn’t for me. Although I’m not reluctant to give up and I know I’m capable of staying here, I’m still having doubts about my skills as a person, especially due to my autism.
Given, I don’t drink or smoke and I tend to be pretty quiet, so that would probably make me the perfect roommate, though my sensitivity towards other people’s feelings and emotions is what makes me distance myself from others. I just feel that schools don’t really encourage free thinking and everything is just a competition to them, but I keep telling myself, despite sounding like a broken record right now, that I’ll make it.
But even giving the benefit of the doubt is still what’s causing me trouble. If I can’t make it in College, where do I go? Given, I’m reluctant on getting a degree and a good job and all that, but given how I like STEM because I like helping people and making a better future, I feel that that’s the only way to get a job through there. I just wonder if there are any programs, especially for people like me.
College also wasn’t really for my husband. He mostly hated it most of the way through. He did what he needed to do to pass. My sister was similar, and so’s my cousin. Each of them viewed college in sort of a utilitarian way - I need this degree so I can do what I want to do, so I will do what I need to do to get the degree.
So yes, it’s possible that college isn’t really for you BUT that you want to do something that requires a college degree. If that’s the case, then you need to figure out what the minimum is that you need to put in to get good grades and graduate, and then turn the rest of your energies to other pursuits and interests, perhaps.
@julliet, well it’s just that I’m not reluctant to leave college just yet, but I don’t know if I’ll ever make any progress. I heard about trade schools, but are there any that offer on-campus housing and summer courses. What about trade schools with STEM programs?
Colleges have many support services…talk to your advisor or someone at the Counseling Center or
Student Support services and see if you can get help before you quit. Work life and trade school will not be that much different in people interaction.
@bopper I don’t think so and I just can’t seem to like college. I went to Plattsburgh to earn some credits for Herkimer for the fall semester, but then I realize that it wasn’t worth it because colleges just seem lazy today. Nowadays, there’s too much emphasis on online course this and pointless course that that I can’t help but feel guilty and sad over the fact that I have a hard time coping with colleges. Not to mention, the area around Plattsburgh depressed me and it didn’t seem like the right place for me to go to college.
I was hoping to go to Trade School, but I haven’t found any nearby (most of it is high schools on google) and I mainly want to go to a trade school that is mainly in the east coast (New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, etc.)
There are other ways to get into STEM without necessarily the four year degree pathway. Trade school sounds like it could be a good fit as well as there are many other options. Other posters can probably better comment on this
Colleges don’t offer online courses because they’re lazy, they offer them because there’s a market for them. Not everyone has a work schedule that allows them to enroll during the day.
Gen eds aren’t pointless. Learning about something besides STEM is important. It helps people learn how to apply STEM skills in the real world.
Are you a community college student commuting to Herkimer during the year who’s paying to live at SUNY Plattsburgh for summer courses? It seems like it would be less expensive to find a course at one of the area colleges in the Mohawk Valley. Summer courses can be pretty intense because they’re so short. Maybe you need a break over the summer. If you don’t really enjoy school, why are you taking extra courses during your break?