I am really sad...what to do??

Question

I just found out that I did not pass a class...Maybe for some of you will start laughing, but I take it seriously. I am in college and I am an international student. It brought my GPA really low. I am studying to become a doctor and I really love everything that has to do with medicine (medicine is so interesting for me), but I am having a hard time to get good grades (some classes are very difficult for me).. I am always studying, and always putting my effort in the class, but sometimes I feel that hard work is not paying for me. I am so sad because this is my major and I am not getting the grades that I want to, I have no motivation because I am very disappointed in everything. I have to take the class again, and my parents are going to have a heart attack (too much money). I can't stop crying. Can someone give me an advice (serious answers please)...I need a hug :(

Answer 1

Hi
I am really sorry to hear that. I totally know what you are feeling. I was an A+ student all my life but due to moving so many times my grades started going down after the last move. I had to adjust and adjust and eventually I could not do it anymore. When I failed my first test at the university, I felt that I am going to faint. And in the final exam for that course I was unable to answer most of the question. I wanted to cry and asked God to at least let me pass. I passed with a C+ which brought my average down. I eventually chaged my major from engineering to genetics and I started seeing A again but not in all my courses. During that time, just like you, I was studying and studying with no results. I didn't feel that the courses were that hard or that the other students were better,but I wasn't getting the grades I want. I think for me and you and probably some other students, not being used to the system is the reason. Also, after a lot of thinking, I realized that maybe I was studying hard but the method was wrong. It is not the quantity but the quality. Try to think about the right way to study for a certain course and when writing papers try to see what they want from you. I was getting low grades in some courses because my research paper wasn't good enough. And when asking other students some of them just pushed me away. I remember going to the bathroom and crying. I realize now that maybe I was not seeing the whole picture. Also, what was a problem for me is that English is a second language. I did get 7.5 in the IELTS which is considered high, but sometimes you face problems especially if you didn't live in an English speaking country before...

My advice for you is:
1) Have faith in God. I am a Muslim and I did lose my faith during that time, but believe that everything happens for a reason. Always ask God for guidance.
2) Try to re-evaluate your plans. If medicine is what you really want , not what the people around you want (like engineering for me) then all what you can do is give it your best shot. If it doesn't happen then don't feel sorry maybe your passion is some place else and you don't realize it yet. Again if you don't achieve your dream after trying hard remember that what ever it was, it wasn't your fault.
3) Try to see if the way you study and do papers is what they want from you...maybe you are studying hard but not right.
4) Finally, when there is well there is a way. Don't give up....

Answer 2

I'm sorry that you are struggling and that it has made you so sad. Know, though, that you can take more pride in your accomplishments if they were things which did not come naturally for you, so that when you finally achieve your goals, you will know that you really overcame obstacles and persisted until you succeeded. That takes more character than just doing something which didn't take much work.

A few things you can do:

First of all, you probably should go to your student psychological services or health center. You are experiencing normal depression, but talking about it with a professional can be very helpful and can keep you moving forward, rather than losing motivation.

Secondly, there is nothing wrong with getting help. Everyone needs help sometimes, and as an international student, you are already dealing with some challenges which other students don't face. Consider working with a tutor, or form a study group with others when you retake the class. I believe you when you say that you study all the time, but I find that many students who study a lot focus on the wrong things, and could actually do better if they studied less, but differently. Others might give you a better idea of how to approach your work.

I also want to point out that even if your parents seem angry, you have done your best and you have nothing to be ashamed of. It is not as if you wasted their money by partying instead of studying; you just found your courses more challenging than expected. That is not deserving of criticism.

Answer 3

I'm in my last semester of college - graduating next Friday. It has taken me 6 years to finish my BS degree, mainly because I changed majors from Chemistry to Public Policy. I reached a point along the way where I was not going to get through the chemistry program and started to do so poorly in my classes. That semester I felt like the world's biggest disappointment. I literally cried through my Organic Chemistry final.

My advice is to try and look beyond today. 5 years from now - heck, even one year from now - this class and this grade won't matter. You're feeling down because of the grade and also because it is the time of year in college where you are at your weakest point emotionally. College is so draining. Your family will get over it. Getting over the disappointment you have in yourself is more difficult sometimes. Just don't let it stop your motivation. Figure out where you could have done better - take some time to relax and reflect this summer - and go back for a strong fall semester. You'll be okay. Tell yourself that - and really believe it - you will.

Answer 4

Try again!

I remember my professor once told me before I left for my education abroad...

Poor Grades... you can always take the class again
Ran out of Money... money can always be made
BUT
Money and Grades could never buy GOOD HEALTH.

You still can't be a doctor should you have poor health to the point that you can't even go to class... so chin-up!

Parents will always do what they can for you... keep healthy mentally and physically!

Answer 5

Im sorry this is happening to you. It can be very discourageing to try your best and it doesn't seem to be good enough.
I was a very good student for most subjects but I found I needed extra help in a class. I was able to get free tutoring from a senior that helped me go from a low C to a B in one of my classes...see if you can do that.
Don't be sad, and dont give up..You can do it..!!!!
Remember Einstein..his teachers gave him terrible grades and accused him of being retarded!!!!

Answer 6

you can get a tutor. it may be a language barrier holding you back. try taking an extra english class or get an english tutor. :)