Well, I'm in my senior year of high school, and so far, I'm having a great time except for two classes.

The first class was Piano lab, something that my chorus teacher (who teaches every music class but band) wanted me to join since I was a freshman, but it can be so frustrating sometimes! I know that even though I'm really good in other classes (90-something-percentile in the country in most subjects) I'm just plain slow when it comes to music. It's something that I want to do, but it's really difficult for me to learn. Nobody seems to understand this, my mom is saying "it's only hard because you're saying it's hard, you just need to convince yourself that it's easy and it will be" this is REALLY upsetting to me because it's like she can't understand that nobody is perfect and some things are more difficult then others for people. I'm trying my best to be as patient and tolerable of many of the beliefs that I don't necessarily agree with, and it's been this way with months and I feel like at the end of my rope with this. Anyways, after that little tangent, my teacher strikes me as just being impatient with me and just assumes that I know what to do without directions, and just expects me to be at the same level as the other students but I'm NOT. I know it's probably just me, because I've been really touchy lately but I swear I go into that class feeling excited to be there and then leave with such a deflated sense of self-esteem it just makes me want to cry. This is something that I want to do, this is something that I know I can do, I just wish people would be a little more patient and understanding with me.

The second class is Animal/Veterinary science, now, this class is held in the distance learning room, which means that you sit in a room with a desk that has a microphone built into it, and there are a bunch of cameras and some TV's. Basicaly, you sit in this room, and there is a teacher on the screen as well as other classes as well on the screen. They can see and hear whatever you do, just as you can see and hear everything they do. It makes me really anxious, paranoid. (on top of this the teacher is as boring as dirt, or watching the paint dry) I wish I could just switch the class with a different science that I like more, but apparently I can't do this for quite awhile.

So, it's pretty obvious to me that because it's pretty much my reactions to a situation that isn't going to change, I just wanted to know if anybody had any advice on how to cope with these situations.

[eskielover]

First off.....the piano class isn't something that everyone can do......there is a bit of talent towards the piano that makes a difference as to the ability to do well in it....so don't feel bad if it just isn't your talent. It's like when I tried to learn how to play the violin I just couldn't get it to sound like anything but scratching sound....like the clarinet the same....couldn't get it to sound like anything except for a sick goose....my AA degree was in music....playing the flute as my major instrument & piano as my second (had piano lessons from the age of 5) I wasn't good enough in either instrument to make a career out of them....I could get by, but the talent wasn't there to be a professional......so don't feel bad about how the piano class goes.....just enjoy as much as you can get out of it......I understand.

Some class room environments & even the instructors are just impossible for some people to deal with. I had 2 classes I failed in college because I didn't have the option to drop the class or change it. One calculus class where the instructor was horrible...he stood with his back to the class & talked & wrote on the board everthing that was in the book & nothing more...wouldn't answer 1 question....never turned to the class to see if there were questions. The other class was a cost accounting class. The instructor was from India.....I couldn't understand a word he said.....would sit there trying to take notes without being able to figure out the words to write down that he was saying. Sometimes we just have to get by the best we can & other times, it really is impossible for the individual.....others managed through the classes I couldn't handle & my GPA was 3.25......high B gradepoint.....like you.....it wasn't that I wasn't intelligent....just couldn't get through those situations.

I would honestly think since this is at the beginning of the semester that if you can make a change for your best interest if at all possible......don't let the situation discourage you. It's important to be in a place where you will do well in school. No need to mess up your GPA as a senior going into college.

Just my thoughts based on my past experiences,
Debbie

Well, I had a great day friday, so I guess I just need to give myself time to adjust to everything...

[Perna]

It is only the first few weeks so that's probably a good idea, waiting a bit to see if things settle down and get better for you.

I would allow myself to get a "C" or whatever in piano, to do the best you can and to heck with it! It's not like you want to be a concert pianist? :-) For the vet science distance lab, I'd see if I could design a little "screen" of some sort out of books or the way your note taking is done or I'd bring in a small, comforting book I like and leave it open on the corner of your desk (they won't be able to see what the book is) and glance at that every now and then, something from "home"/from your room that can act like a touchstone for you, comfort or re-center you?

[Typo]

Kaika I understand how you feel, I got pressured into taking a speecha and debate class my senior year of high school, my drama teacher wanted to get speech and debate started in school and needed another student to sign up for it, I didn't enjoy it to much, and I wasn't very good at it, but I stuck it out and gritted my teeth seems that's the only thing one can do with those classes, I wish I had better advice, As for distance learning, those are interesting classes, are you getting college credit for it? I had the same problem as you constantly being watched but me on edge, is there a seat you can take that is sort of out of view of the camera? That's what I did. Perna had some good ideas too about bringing a book or something that is comforting. Let us all know how your classes are going hun!!

Best Wishes
Silver

[Karissa258]

Glad that Friday went well for you. I've got a class where I have to read some really boring chapters. I do a little at a time, take a break, then go back and do a little more. That seems to work for me.