I feel like I'm in over my head with school. I'm beginning my sophomore year online tomorrow. I thought online school would be a good idea because school has always been an extremely bad place for me and my mental health. However, we only got our schedules today and mine is completely messed up (15 classes instead of 7, some are duplicated subjects and some are electives that were supposed to be replaced.) , they said they'd fix it hours ago and it hasn't been fixed.
I also completely forgot my summer reading, I know that's my fault. But the thing is despite how much I try I cannot get into the reading. I've been needing reading glasses and was never able to get them. My mother says I'm not putting in any effort but I'm truly trying I swear. I don't know if I'm overreacting or not. Too much is going on for me to process. I don't want to fail and disappoint my parents but it feels like that's what is going to end up happening. They expect me to be the kid who gets all the good grades but I really just want to drop out and not worry about school ever again. I don't know how I'm going to get through this school year.
Hi love,
Thank you for coming to Asking Jude for advice. I’m very sorry to hear about how difficult school has been. Although high school is supposed to be a time to enjoy your adolescence, the workload and environment can be extremely stressful. I also know that the errors made in your class schedule are adding to that stress. It is possible that your school’s administration is resolving other students’ schedules, so they have not had time to fix yours yet. It is also possible that their computer system is slow and it has not made the corrections official. If your schedule is not resolved by the end of today, I recommend contacting your administration again. In the meantime, reassure yourself that this anxiety is temporary. Your schedule will soon be fixed. You will soon be enrolled in your proper classes. It also helps to remember that your first day of school (or the day before it) does not define how the rest of the year will play out. I recommend giving yourself positive affirmations, such as “I have the ability to make my sophomore year a good one.” I found a link with tips on preparing for your first day of school, which I hope you will find useful: https://achievevirtual.org/7-steps-to-prepare-for-first-day-of-online-high-school/
If you are low on time on your summer reading, I recommend going to SparkNotes (https://www.sparknotes.com/) and seeing if they have a summary of the book there. Of course, this is not the best way to understand the material and you should read the book when you can. However, you may feel better knowing that you have a general understanding of the story before class. You can also take notes on the summaries so that you can know what each chapter is about before you read it.
I’m also sorry to hear that your mom sometimes struggles to see the work you put in at school. Since she is likely not hanging around you all the time, it can be easy for her not to notice just how much effort you dedicate towards your education. I know that is frustrating, and you are not overreacting. I recommend being honest with her about how her words affect you. For example, you can say something like, “It hurts me when you think I’m not doing my best in school. I finished (studying/doing homework).” If you are struggling with certain classes, it may be helpful to tell her that as well. Tell her that a certain class has you confused and that you would appreciate any support and advice she is willing to offer. Perhaps clear and calm communication between the two of you can create a better understanding of your situation. However, I know that parents are not always the easiest to talk to. If communicating with her does not work, remind yourself of the effort you put it. Make mental notes of your accomplishments (no matter how small they may seem).
To help cope with the stress that comes with schoolwork, some tips that helped me were: doing my homework days before the due date, asking classmates for help if I needed it, taking notes on the chapters I would read, studying by making flashcards, making online study groups, and asking teachers for help during their office hours. Another great way to study is to teach someone else the material you are being tested on (https://effectiviology.com/protege-effect-learn-by-teaching/). Those are just a few tips from my personal experience, but here are more: https://study.com/articles/High_School_Study_Tips_Three_Steps_to_Better_Grades.html.
I will also be including links to educational channels, videos, and pages that helped me:
https://www.khanacademy.org/
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOrganicChemistryTutor
https://www.youtube.com/user/patrickJMT
https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyPi
https://www.youtube.com/c/Integralcalc
I also do not want you to be discouraged from the rest of your years of high school. I know school can be intimidating and nerve-wracking. As important as school is, please do not forget to take breaks and mental health days. Remind yourself that breaks do not have to be earned; breaks are necessary for your mental wellbeing. Take time out of your day to do activities you love, eat plentiful meals, drink enough water, and get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Here are two links to avoiding academic burnout: https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-academic-burnout/
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/15-tips-on-how-to-deal-with-student-burnout/
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Asking Jude again. We are here for you and are sending you our best wishes for your upcoming academic year.
Wishing you an amazing sophomore year,
Helen
Hi there, Key B! I just relayed your submission to Helen. She'll be answering it shortly. Thank you for supporting us!
Off the top of my head, Key B: Instead of going to school, can you get a job?