Hey everyone. My name's Chelsea, I'm 16, and I have a bit of a problem. I'm in all advanced classes @ school (I'm a junior), I'm in all honor societies and stuff, drama club, music organizations, I volunteer, and I've got a job (Staples). I've got a great boyfriend of nearly two years. The only problem is, this isn't fulfilling. What used to be fun and exciting is just what's "expected" of me. I've lost all interests in my academics (except for maybe English and Spanish class), only two honor societies are worth being in (Social Studies and Tri-M (music)), performing doesn't even have the appeal that it once did. Basically, I'm in a slump. Everything is getting to be too much, and the stress is really piling up. I've developed stress-related TMJ and acid reflux, along with other random aches and pains. What the hell do I do? I'm going to you guys because you all seem to be really intelligent, and just really happy people! My boyfriend, best friend, and mom say I should drop some of the extracurriculars, but I don't know how to choose which ones to drop, because I need to get into college, blah blah blah, all that stuff. Any advice would be so incredibly appreciated, I'd make you cookies and a necklace or something. Thanks everyone who read that, I'm sorry that its soo long.
Hello Chelsea, I know what you mean being stressed out and everything. Extracirricular activities are great for college, but you don't need a ton of them! Drop the ones that don't seem too important to you, or if they are all important to you, try and choose the ones that colleges won't look at as much. Maybe next year (senior year) you can get back into the extracirricular activities that you dropped if you feel you aren't going to be as stressed out as you were. You seem like an excellent student. When I was in high school I wasn't in too many extracirricular activities, and still got into college lol. I'm not saying that all colleges don't look at extracirricular activities, but they don't see those as requirements for college. Hope this helps in a way, no where's my cookies and necklace! lol jk
Keep the stuff you enjoy. As longs as your grades are good college will be no problem. Side not: What college do you want to go to?
Aw, babe. I'm sorry you're feeling overwhelmed. It is overwhelming, the whole school/life/everything thing. I've noticed a lot lately that we as adolescents are constantly being told to endure this stress for college, success, etc. I think it's pretty fucked up that people our age are having mental breakdowns over school because it's so stressful and we feel an obligation to excel (read: measure up to society's expectations). It's not necessary, we should be able to go to school and not have to feel like it's a job, ya know? I don't have any good advice for you. I just know that I've been thinking the same kinds of things lately, and I've come to the conclusion that maybe I don't want to go to college, maybe I want to have some joe-schmo job where I can enjoy what I really love (writing andn philosophy) instead of having to worry about the responsibility that comes with "success." But, then again, maybe college is different. Maybe it's more endurable because it's more concentrated on the things one enjoys, and more relaxed. I'mma just take it as it comes. That's all that can be done, ya know?
That's the thing... I'm in AP classes, I'm a student at the VA governor's school... and at this point, I'm sick of it. I don't mind going for the technical school courses and my English, etc. that I enjoy, it's just that at my real school, I'm being led around and it's way too crowded... and most of the major colleges with a known name are so competitive that people act like chickens running around with their head chopped off trying to grab whatever slight incentive they have with extra-curricular activites and side things. It's getting to be a ridiculous cockfight and eyesore to the watchful and weary... who have been waiting to get into college forever. I do commercial fishing and lately I've been landscaping/tree planting/ganjafarmerizing, though I'm going to school for engineering. Though, I could probably easily switch to some sort or lit/history major. God, what I would give to get in an extracurricular journalism/writing program of some sort.
School deffinitly brings on a lot of stress, like you i have stress-related illnesses. My stomache is all torn to shit, but its not just of school, i have a lot of other things goin on too with my family and stuff. So anyways dropping out has been on my mind as well, that or just go to an alternative school were u only go for 3 hours and do all the courses on a computer. Its either pass or fail, no grades, and u can take as long as u want. its way better for the stress level, but not the education level. -you seem like a very motivated, intelligent young girl. im the same age as you, but i dont have half as much goin for me as u do. if your doing good in school, and in your activities, stay with them. but if its too much then dont do the extra. EXTRA is just that, its another burden on you. we only have a year and half left, it seems like a long ass time, but in reality it flys by, and once we are out it will feel like we were never there. i hope this helped you a little. peace~
Life's a bitch, but that's why God made mountains... or whatever deity, since I don't feel like arguing about opinions... Sometimes it's kinda like beltsanding jello.
Ugh. I still contemplate dropping out, pretty much daily at this point. School is just sort of a back-up plan for me. My first thought when I turned 16, the morning I woke up, was that I could now drop out... I think it's ridiculous. Teenagers are asked of so much these days. The workload at school is more than ever before, and then we have to go work jobs afterwards apparently, plus juggle all that with family and figuring out who the hell we are. And then we get to do the same thing during university/college... Kudos to anyone who can handle it as well as it sounds like you are, definitely. Like everyone else seems to have said, just keep the things you love doing, and strive for the things you want, actually WANT. Just consider what makes you happiest and what you get the most out of, and possibly what might count most towards college. Just keep your grades at school up, overall, and that's more than enough, compared to lotsa folks. It sounds like you have a TON going on, and I know that I personally couldn't tackle all that stuff at once, nor would I even want to. I completely admire ya for getting this far, however. Right now I'm in the same slump as you, without all the extra curriculars. Anyhow, I hope everyone's advice helps you out in the longrun. Sounds like you deserve it. (PS- what did you have planned for after high school? as in, do you have plans for a career or something?)
More sex? I wouldn't drop out of school now. Your'e doing good, your close to the finishing line, just stick with it. How to find something that's fulfilling? You kind of just stumble into them as far as I can tell. For me, painting can be a good way of loosening emotions, fulfilling is cooking for my friends and getting compliments on ze foods, or just hanging out with my friends/being there when they need me. Feeling important in someone's life. What's fulfilling is so damn individual, there's no one perfect answer. Are you thinking about post-secondary? What about saving up a shitload of money, getting a plane ticket and going backpacking in Europe?
I'd rather go on a trip to baja, in Mexico or somewhere thereabouts... or to scale the appalachian trail. Which is why I'm trying to get a place near the Appalachian Trail.
Don't get all worked up. It's just school. I never had any extra's in high school and was still accepted to any college I applied (also only had a 3.0 so it shows you don't need much for college) and remember it's a joke. College is nothing except something you have to do now a days if you want to make any money (a necessary evil). So keep your head up, keep smiling, and most of all keep on truckin'. Peace, love, and health, Al
That's the thing... even if you do get out of your public school and go to some kind of alternative school or even drop out, you can still go to community college and get in... depending on what you've done and if you care about furthering a real education.
If you're in AP classes and you WANT to go to college, stay in those. They'll be really good on your transcript, and if you need FA, you'll be more likely to get it. Do you need your job? If not, put in your two weeks notice. You're just 16. Do odd jobs around the house and ask if your parents will pay you a little a week just to have some extra cash. Do things for family or neighbors and charge a few bucks. What, of your EAs, do you enjoy the least? Drop one or two you don't care for as much as the others. Just take a break. Step back and look at the whole picture. What do you and don't you need? Get rid of the things taking up too much space.
ok chelsea...my advice to you is to stay in high school, get your diploma. After high school, take off..travel, do whatever it is you feel is in your system. I took 6 years off and did a lot of things I wanted to. I got a lot of shit out of my system. Im back in school and kicking ass....deans list every semester, 3.75 gpa, blah blah.....the point is, what do YOU want to do? Just hold out for another year and a half.....and find yourself after. I think you will be pleased with the results. Itll be ok sweetie....just hold on
