I know this probably won't help alot now, but let me share...

My oldest cared VERY much about her grades, and is *highly* self-critical. She felt about her grades as you do. She would sit up late, going on and on and on till I'd start getting on her.

Once she had to be out an extended period and, yes, when she came back she had tests, etc., to take. She didn't do well (and for a straight A student, that was hard for her to take). Her teacher pulled her aside and told her not to sweat it.

It wasn't because of her, but it was because make-up work is just that. It cannot and does not cover what's been gone over in class, the things teachers point out that's needed to know for tests, the explanations given, etc.

It helped her to know, coming from a teacher, that it wasn't her...just the way it happens when missing extended periods from school. Nobody's fault, and certainly not hers for being sick.

Can you think of it the same way? It has nothing to do with your intelligence...you can only test on that you've learned and being absent for so long, you missed alot...despite the makeup work because it just doesn't cover it all.

KD

PS-She went on to graduate fifth in her class (a large class), and she actually got her first and only "F" during this time (shh, don't tell anyone because it's still an ouch for her).