I'm having a lot of trouble at school. I am trying to finish up with a practicum, where I'm supposed to be taking the lead and making the right decisions. But I can't seem to get it right.

I know how needy and dependent this sounds, but I need more direction on how to do this. My advisor is not very communicative: he's obviously giving students a lot of leeway with how they run their practicum. I know the real problem is me: I'm being too lazy or stupid or defective . . . the usual thoughts that plague me at everything I try. I know other students don't have these problems. My advisor probably assumes I'm slacking off on purpose, (and maybe he's right. I'm just so tired of all of this. I just want to get it over with, then disappear back into my minimum-wage-level life.)

I might have to ask for a different advisor, but I don't think one is available and that will create even more of a hassle for everyone. I don't want to be a burden, and I don't want to "cheat" by asking for special privileges, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Is there any nice, professional way to explain that I need someone to tell me what I'm supposed to do, instead of leaving me to make wild guesses that end in disasters? Or is it wrong to ask for extra help? WTF is wrong with me that I can't figure this out on my own?