[Tiger_Lily]

I failed my microbiology exam. It's my own fault. I didn't study enough. It's past the date that I can get any refund by withdrawing, and after the second midterm, I should be able to determine whether or not I can pass and still withdraw without penalty if I don't. After finishing the exam, I was pretty sure I would fail, though I was hoping I could squeak past the 50% mark.

I keep not going to class or not studying. I am looking forward to the day I have only nursing classes, because I know I won't skip them. Writing papers is still hard, but less than it was. Showing up for classes and studying is the hardest thing for me.

It's stupid how hard I find school, because I'm smart and, when I show up and study, I excel. I know marks are not the be all and end all, aside for getting scholarships, but I am capable of doing better, even with mild depression. Being less than I can be also triggers the mild depression.

I'll forgive myself for this, because I have to to keep going. It reminds me of past failures though.

[adam_k]

Failing classes can be difficult, but it isn't the end of the world. My first year in college i failed english 101. Failing a class like that is very disappointing, but i took it again and passed it with flying colors. Schoolwork can be very difficult when fighting depression. You lack motivation to go to class and study. Just keep trying, and you can do it. Don't give up on yourself.

[Travelinglady]

Have you considered checking in with a counselor? This person could give you some support and good advice---and help with the depression. Most schools have at least one.

Are you able to be successful if you reward yourself, such as something tangible like a meal out or even a cup of special coffee at Starbuck's?

[Tiger_Lily]

I keep now showing to university counselling sessions. Maybe if I scheduled them for after my nursing course, since I have only missed one nursing class. I am willing to withdraw from the class, but the midterm was worth only 30% of my grade and if I do well on my other midterm and my fatal, maybe I can pull off a C- I keep saying this is the last I'll skip classes, the last time I will skip studying, but I keep doing it.need this degree.

[Tiger_Lily]

Well, I decided to withdraw from the course. If I focus on my other 3 courses, I can do well on them. I'm going to take the course again this spring and focus solely on it. I showed up to counselling this time. The counsellor seemed nice. She had one annoying speech pattern, but I think I can look past it. I'm getting help for my studies, both from her and writing and learning strategies and that's a start.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Tiger_Lily

Well, I decided to withdraw from the course. If I focus on my other 3 courses, I can do well on them. I'm going to take the course again this spring and focus solely on it. I showed up to counselling this time. The counsellor seemed nice. She had one annoying speech pattern, but I think I can look past it. I'm getting help for my studies, both from her and writing and learning strategies and that's a start.

I hope you get past the annoying speech pattern. That can be tough. It is OK to fail, and it is good to have a smaller load and be really focused on what you do rather than spread yourself thin. I think you have chosen the right strategy to succeed by dropping this class.

Somebody on the Bipolar forum does better if she develops a crush on the professor. I know you cannot will crushes, but can you consider just entertaining interesting thoughts about the classmates and/or professor, just to sort of play a game that gets you to attend? I am recommending it because the problem you are having is due to attendance, not lack of skills.

[bornbroken]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I hope you get past the annoying speech pattern. That can be tough. It is OK to fail, and it is good to have a smaller load and be really focused on what you do rather than spread yourself thin. I think you have chosen the right strategy to succeed by dropping this class.

Somebody on the Bipolar forum does better if she develops a crush on the professor. I know you cannot will crushes, but can you consider just entertaining interesting thoughts about the classmates and/or professor, just to sort of play a game that gets you to attend? I am recommending it because the problem you are having is due to attendance, not lack of skills.

I love that you said to develop a crush, it made me laugh. I feel like this is describing me exactly. I'm smart when I try but I've been trying less and less every year and I just got a mark in the 50s on my last midterm and that was pure luck. I'm also skipping classes now and skipped my last counselling session. I think I'm slowly withdrawing from my world and it is getting harder to leave my house. But I keep telling myself I'll get better. Any suggestions?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by bornbroken

I love that you said to develop a crush, it made me laugh. I feel like this is describing me exactly. I'm smart when I try but I've been trying less and less every year and I just got a mark in the 50s on my last midterm and that was pure luck. I'm also skipping classes now and skipped my last counselling session. I think I'm slowly withdrawing from my world and it is getting harder to leave my house. But I keep telling myself I'll get better. Any suggestions?

Another suggestion is a crush on a classmate who does not skip classes!

[Bark]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Another suggestion is a crush on a classmate who does not skip classes!

Just don't get too distracted!

Originally Posted by Tiger_Lily

It's stupid how hard I find school, because I'm smart and, when I show up and study, I excel. I know marks are not the be all and end all, aside for getting scholarships, but I am capable of doing better, even with mild depression. Being less than I can be also triggers the mild depression.

Grades are pretty important for what I plan to go into, but that's me to a T.

To be more helpful: maybe write down a schedule you have to stick to? Set priorities? Reward yourself for even the smallest thing? If you're like me, you don't give yourself enough credit when you do do something.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by Tiger_Lily

I am looking forward to the day I have only nursing classes, because I know I won't skip them.

I don't think it will be quite like that, quite like you imagine; the science/biology courses get in there the whole time. My stepsister dropped out of nursing school altogether with only one semester remaining (she already had a much older BA in a science subject so was in an accelerated course for an RN) because she couldn't do the science/biology stuff; my husband drilled her for her chemistry exam and she got a "B" but just couldn't stand that it wasn't "only nursing" like she imagined.

You might want to get to a nursing-related career and go to school while being fulfilled doing stuff such that the courses make more sense/are in context? My stepsister was an aide at an assisted living center (her oldest daughter is an RN) when she was going to school and her schooling did help taking care of my stepmother as she got older/more senile, etc., dealing with doctors.

If I wanted to be a nurse, I think I'd work my way up like that, get an Licensed degree and then my Registered one. I know my neighbor next door here was licensed and able to take her extra courses to be an RN on her own, self-study and then just pass a test; maybe something like that would work for you, where you study on your own?

[Jan1212]

I failed microbiology class my first time. I was working full time while also taking pharm. It really is about time management and priority. Now I'm in my last semester of nursing school... I see staphylococcus aureus, or escherichia coli every now and then, yes but I just call it bacteria and know I will need antibiotics. The only thing I got out of it was becoming a germ-o-phobe.

Your stepsister was probably taking chem bc the program didn't accept or she didn't have the credits. Bc usually in any program you get the science 'pre or co reqs' out of the way before starting. I agree that starting as LPN gets you faster exposure to working as a nurse, I wouldve preferred going that way

I truly support the fact that you're going to counseling. Having that baggage to carry in addition to nursing school is just gonna make it harder. this underlying issue can't get in the way.