So I was an idiot and signed myself up for six classes, two of them intensive. And so it goes that a few weeks into school, I am a few miserable Chem HWs away from a total collapse. I'd like to stay focused, and I'd like to be able to get everything done, but I have the nasty feeling that it just isn't possible. So I've got a few choices here. And I need advice, which I probably won't listen to, because I'm an idiot like that (see a recurring theme?)
So. Choice 1 is that I start seriously slacking off in a few classes--English and History really--and sacrifice getting high grades in those classes so I can focus on the intensives and not fail those. Choice 2 is I do as much as I can with the intensives, but focus on my stronger classes. Get mediocre grades in the intensives, good-to-high grades in the others. Choice 3 is I attempt to do really well in all my classes, but I sacrifice my social life, my riding, and any hope of teaching piano. I also have to FOCUS, which is the hardest part of choice 3, and I have to stop being so easily distracted. This is nearly impossible, because I'm determined not to give up riding. It's the only thing that consistently makes me happy, and I need that right now.
Unfortunately, choice 3 is what my parents are leaning towards. I'm not sure how to tell them that if I only focus on school, I'm going to just stop trying period in under a week, because they're not getting it. I need some way of getting rid of all this stress, but I don't think I can talk to a psychologist about it because I honestly don't think that I'm willing to accept help. And on top of it all, I can't even get COMFORT from my parents because if I go to them and I'm frustrated and upset, all I'll hear is "Well, obviously it's because you're trying to do too much and need to quit horseback riding and socializing so much."
And all I have to say to that is "SCREW YOU." So you know how I stand on that particular issue. I'd still like advice though. In person, over the blog, I don't care. Just...advice. Help. Hugs and cookies, even. I am quite obviously desperate.
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You get a comment because comments make people feel loved, then we'll talk more if you'd like.
You can't completely give up things that make you happy. You will become a sad, mushy lump. So I don't think you should completely give up riding and seeing friends.
However, coming from the perspective I'm in this semester (must get into college), this becomes more complicated. Colleges will be looking at the difficulty of the courses you take and how well you do. They will also be looking for your extra-curriculars, and how much you stick with things you love. This does not help, because it basically means you should do everything and do it all very well. That's unrealistic if you also want to enjoy life.
So... I'd say you should do the best you can in intensives, but don't let your grades in other classes slip much. Ask people for help as soon as you start to have any questions or problems, school-related or otherwise. You could try talking to Meredith if you wanted, because she's actually pretty cool and beats Pagano, and she can talk to your parents if you can't get through to them.
I have been in similar problems of major time and brainspace crunchiness, but I can't speak to dealing with intensives.
I will talk to you more in short order.
Meow meow, agreed with Ari on the mushy lump consequence. You just can't give up horseback riding/social life. It will make you die way too much inside to continue living.
Since it is physically impossible to take six academic classes, two intensives, horseback ride, teach piano, and maybe have a life on the side you must drop something! Dropping the things you do out of school will make you look like you don't have a life, and you won't have one anyway, so that will be the truth.
Your other option is slacking in classes. Slacking in classes looks bad.
Your third option is dropping classes. I say drop the less-than-necessary classes like Ancient Med & Spanish. Yeah, taking 4 classes might be dubious, but considering two of them would be intensives it would probably make up for it. Yeah, dropping a class this far in the year is kinda odd, but I'm sure between your adviser and Meredith it would work out fine.
Option four is to drop out of one of the intensive classes into regular - which ever one sucks the most. Yeah, a bit of a blow to the dignity and displeasing to the rents, but obviously necessary at this point. The point of intensives is to move faster, not to kill yourself (which many people don't seem to realize). I assume Meredith and our dear friend Brian (you're in that advisory, right?) will be able to help you there.
As for your the rents, you're 16 and you can make decisions for yourself. Seriously. If explaining the situation to them has failed miserably, just do whatever the hell you want anyway. If roadblocks occur...Meredith. Meow meow.
Sorry for the mondo comment. It just sucks ass when you guys work your brains out and refuse to realize that YOU ARE HUMAN AND CANNOT DO IT ALL!!!!!!!
LOVE TO YOU my friend. I'm pretty useless in general, but if you need someone to talk to I'm always around :)
Well, I'm going to talk to you, since I can't say everything in a comment. But to be honest, I must say that I really think that you can pull this off without making any of those choices. Maybe you can do a mix of all three, like, cut down a little on socializing, focus more, and perhaps choose one class that you think is probably an easy A and don't work as hard in it, while at the same time not killing yourself over intensives (I should take my own advice). For example, English for me in quite a no-work-required class, therefore I am just completely letting go of it, and simply being happy with completing assignments on time, and not writing one word essays. Anyways, I'll talk to you tomorrow.
okay, just have to add to schmidt's comment that there is a requirement of taking 5 classes a year, so dropping two isn't quite an option...(you should drop spanish though)
Oops, in which case drop them...and take Drawing & Painting II :)
Jk. Unless you wanted to, because art is an amazing de-stressor.
I think Navel's probably right, but that's also probably because I really don't want to drop any classes--especially if I transfer down from an intensive, I don't think I get credit for either class at this point, which would SUCK. I do think if I juggle everything and cut back a bit, I might pull it off...but be prepared for serious mooching. Also, thank you all for being super supportive. It helps, it really does.
Seriously though dear, I think you should at least talk to Meredith or something...often times our resolutions of "cutting down and focusing" don't often work. We are creatures of habit.
I seriously do think that you should drop something, anything, but ideally something like Ancient Med. Credit schmedit, oddly enough your sanity is more important.
Otherwise I think you'll just have this same problem again and again. Seriously dear, abition is what got you here in the first place - what's to say it won't get in the way again?
I just don't want you to kill yourself like so many other kids at school. Life is worth living. I'm being melodramatic because it's late and I don't like it when people are stressed by their own doing, but none the less...please don't stay stuck in the nervous breakdown hole.
Meow meow meow, I will stop now.
Schmidt, you'd have a really good point if most of the "cutting down and focusing" wasn't just "stop procrastinating". Also, Ancient Med is probably my favorite class ever--I must admit I am reluctant to drop it. I do think I'll give up on the teaching piano, though, because having an income isn't as important as having sanity. And then as far as relaxing goes, I'll be able to relax more if I get my homework done on time....So I'll feel better too. I just suck at planning ahead. But thanks (again) for sitting at your computers across the lake and helping me work through this! (Also, yes I fail at being unambitious...Asian gene?)
God. The conundrum to beat all conundrums.
I'd agree with Ari that you should by no means give up riding or socializing. Trust me; I tried Choice 3 for almost all of last year, and while I got consistently good grades, it was definitely one of the worst years of my life because moments of success and worth came only once every quarter. You don't want that.
If I had to pick one of your three choices, it would be Choice 1, because I know that there are more people you can fall on for help if you're slacking in English and History, and less possible scenarios in which you will need that help. (For example: I would be delighted to bulldoze-edit all of your English assignments.) Your intensives (Chem in particular) seem to give you very few people to seek help from, so the more you can work out on your own, the better (although you should ask for help whenever you need it, and screw your pride).
You'll see that I'm basing my opinion on the fact that you simply can't do everything amazingly as long as you try to do it all alone. Make use of all your friends, family, horses, dog, etc.--for hw help and shoulders to cry on and all other manner of things. I have a feeling that if we all pull a little of everybody else's wait, we'll all survive the year.
As Bran don growls, "Use all the weapons that you've got in your arsenal!"
<3<3<3<3
Obviously anything I say now will just be late and not helpful so here be my advice: Instead of slacking in English and History in a way that pushes everything to the last minutes and squeezes readings and stuff into 15 minutes before class, work on your SUPER hard classes and then do little segments of history or English in between to give yourself a break. This will make everything go faster and will make history and english more of a relief than an added duty you have to take care of AFTER you've killed yourself wiht math/science.
Also, use your frees to do work (even though you alread do, I've found that this year I really need to do that and it's actually nice: you get to break up work into 45 minute sections which is much more doable than a 6 hour chunck)
Like everyone else said, I don't type as well as I speak. And, allways remember, you can has fun!
Don't give up socializing! (I would miss you way too much.)
You can has magic, lolshani -- use it! :)
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