I'm Starting A New Chapter In My Life

[Healing Reins]

I'm starting a new chapter in my life on the 29th for several reasons, one of which being that I will be in college.. and I'm scared that I'll flunk out of college, or worse drop out...I usually stick with something if it's hard but I'm scared college is going to be too much for me, and I'm not going to be able to handle it. If you went to college what helped you mannage your stress load? I'll be living pretty close to home, but I wont be at home,

My fears are:

I wont wake up on time
I'll be a partier
I'll get super depressed and stop showing up to classes
My Bio, Physics, Anatomy, and Chem class will be too much to handle
I'm scared I wont get along with my profs.
I'm scared that I wont have any friends
I'm scared that my friends will be fake
I'm scared of midterms
I'm scared of finals
I'm scared of college in general
What helped you with your fears of college?

 

[J_trustno1]

Hi,

Everyone goes through those fears, I still have fears even after finishing university. What motivated me was that I cannot afford to fail. My first year was difficult and yes, I failed 3 papers in my second semester and I was barely passing in my first year. I didn't want to fail after that, instead of dwelling on my failures, i worked on how to get through university and I went to get help from student learning center at uni where they actually teach you "how to study". I know it sounds dumb but that actually helped me. I went to their seminar where they talk about concentration and how to priorities your work. I then booked one-to-one sessions with their head person who was a PhD in Educational psychology. He helped me on how to manage my priorities and how to actually study for tests and exams.

What I learned was that the best way to learn is to practice, practice and practice. Then find the things you don't know or understand, then work on those areas other than memorizing things over and over again. Once you find, something you can't do, at first try looking up for answers and if you can't find the answers own you own then seek help, send an email to your lecturer/professor regarding that problem, or even book an appointment. Once you find out the solutions to your problems then move on.

I think it is the same principal in life. You gotta find out what the main issue is and then try finding possibilities that will help you resolve those issues. Start small and build high n higher and so on..

I hope this helped.

 

[Healing Reins]

But how do I get though my bio chem anatomy and physics class?

 

[J_trustno1]

hmm, bio and anatomy is a lot about memorizing and about wrote learning. However for physics, you need to practice problems and when you don't understand those then it is best to get help from your peers or seek help from your professors or even get private tutoring. Physics is a lot about concepts and understand theories. If the chemistry you will be doing is organic chemistry then you will have to memorize the formulas . If you feel you will be struggling a lot then it is best you take fewer papers in your first semester so that you can focus better because doing everything at once can be overwhelming.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

My Bio, Physics, Anatomy, and Chem class will be too much to handle

That sounds like a heavy load. I think you just have to wait and see what they are like and then figure out a schedule to fit all of the work in. Think about what study strategies help you and apply those. For me, I did a lot of note-taking in class because I couldn't get through the readings fast enough. I learned to read chapter summaries and look for answers to questions by skimming. I also did my best studying in the library rather than in my dorm- I'd be too distracted by everything. I used notecards when preparing for a test.

I was scared about college when I started, but it ended up being fine. My first semester I definitely hung out with people who were not my close friends by the end, but we had fun. I found peers that didn't party. Eventually I found great friends, friends I still have today.

What helped me the most was that I was 4 hours from home and knew I just had to survive. I also found one person to help support me. For me this happened to be my cross-country coach and not a professor, but be on the look out for that kind of support person.

Also, remember that it's okay to have these fears. But you don't have to solve every fear at the beginning. Take things one day at a time and one step at a time. Wishing you the best.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I'm not quite sure why you've been advised to take 4 science classes during your first semester. I think one or two is normal, along with something in the arts or humanities as you'll likely need an array of classes to get your degree.

My advice? Take a maximum of 2 science classes and then two lighter load classes. Register with the disabilities department (I can't stress this enough, even if you think you don't need their services, think of it in financial terms.....its an insurance policy.)

 

[Bees Are Awesome]

All of the things that go along with being at college/uni can be so overwhelming. My simple advice is just to try to take things one day at a time. Or even one hour at a time. It's a hard thing to do but when I can manage a moment at a time things seem to go better.

Sending positive thoughts for you.

 

[NicG]

Hi!
I went to university which from what I gather is a bit different to American college, but sounds like I did the same kind of major as you. I did a very heavy load of chem/bio/genetics/biochem, I think I did about 2 subjects in three years that weren't science.

Powering through classes can be pretty difficult. Probably the best things I picked up on for surviving those particular types of classes were:

Help other people. If you can do something, and the person you're sitting near can't, try to teach them. This makes you a new friend, gives you a person to call on when you're struggling with something else, and will concrete the information in your mind, because teaching others is shown to be the best way to learn things yourself.

Being a high achiever is great, but sometimes, be willing to admit defeat. NOT in the sense of your whole degree, but sometimes there'll be a topic you just DON'T understand. Physical chemistry did this to me a LOT. Sometimes it's worth sacrificing that one topic, and focussing on mastering the ones you're actually good at. (We have a saying here, "P's get degrees", as in Pass marks, 50-60%).

SLEEP. Don't stay up until 4am cramming for a midsem or a final. It's not worth it, you won't remember a thing.

Some professors are great. They'll understand your struggles and be compassionate. Others are giant jerks, but you can make the best out of that situation. Everyone seems to bond over those professors who treat everyone like crap and give out unfair assignments... often people will be super willing to help you out in cases like that. I remember we had a spectra assignment like that once (here are a bunch of lines and dots on a graph, figure out which chemical it represents) which are ridiculously hard, so a group of us sat around and figured out one person's chemical at a time. 6 hours later our collaborative efforts had taught us a lot about the course, we'd filled in the gaps in each others knowledge, and we all got high marks.

And finally, it seems counter-intuitive, but TAKE BREAKS, or you'll drive yourself insane. Especially with PTSD on top of all of that. We manage our anxiety by taking on what we can handle and letting go of what we can't. It's the same with college. Missing that party seems like you're missing out, but taking time out for yourself is sometimes what you need. Watching a movie between cramming sessions seems wrong, but it's better than burning out and not learning anything at all.

Best of luck, I'm so glad you're able to move onto something new in your life!

 

[BlueOrange]

But how do I get though my bio chem anatomy and physics class?

The first thing you do is show up to class. The second thing you do is pay attention in class, and take notes. The third thing you do is talk to your fellow students about the material that you're being taught. Find out which ones actually want to have that conversation, and keep having that conversation with them.

My favorite trick was to get as much reading done as possible before the assignments were given out. Then, when it was difficult to find time to do the reading and also do assignments, it was easier for me, because I'd already done the reading.

 

[J_trustno1]

@BlueOrange : I do agree with you to some extent. But I want to point out that some people learn differently to others, some are Kinesthetic Learners, some are Auditory, there are others that are visual, solitary, social and logical or even reading+writing. For me, I was more of a solitary learner (Preferred my own company because working with others was more distracting and I need silence when studying), I learned by writing lots and practicing.

@Healing Reins: You gotta find a way you best learn. The time of the day you learn the best, the methods that have always worked for you. Lastly, do you like learning with others or is it more of a distraction? Because for me, I need silence to understand what i am learning or writing even when i was doing my assignments. As for friends, you will meet a lot of different people at college from different backgrounds. Take things slow in getting to know people (like my T always tells me). If you don't like someone's personality, then maintain a bit of distance. Always trust your instincts because they are right most of time.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

You've got a lot of great advice about actually studying and taking a bit of care of yourself by sleeping and so on, so I won't repeat all that but I do have some basic broader sense words for you. Firstly know your limits and don't set yourself up to fail. If your subjects are going to be too intense you could switch to others, but if you are academically minded, persistent and a hard worker I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do these subjects. Just make sure you get "play" time in and amongst all your work time to give your brain a chance to relax.

If dreams can come true, surely then so can nightmares, don't worry problems into your life that don't yet exist. You can't know these things right now no matter how much you try to figure them out they aren't a puzzle to be solved. Worrying about tomorrows problems today does nothing except ruin today. Easier said than done, but try to reassure yourself - if you struggle with that stick with facts, e.g. if there are 100 people on your course, surely at least one or two of them will like you ;)

But how do I get though

I hate to be simplistic, but one step at a time, one lesson at a time, one day at a time. Sooner or later those days will add up to weeks, then months, terms and soon enough you'll be worrying about what will happen when it all finishes.

 

[Ghostybear73]

I'm with @Solara on this one. You have an incredibly heavy load on the sciences and if this is your first year, that is going to be difficult. Since you haven't started yet, is there a way you can switch out some classes? I would start with the into to chemistry and maybe the anatomy. At most colleges, you have to have to have the intro to chemistry as a prerequisite to the others.

Not sure if that is helpful, but something to look into. Congratulations on the new start and good luck, I wish you the best.

:)