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You know yourself best so take a look at some things you would change in order to improve your academic situation. Switch up study habits, go to more office hours (if you didn’t),etc. Don’t be afraid to try new things otherwise you could remain in the same situation moving forward.
I understand how a deflating semester can reduce your confidence. Just remember that the previous semester is over and you can’t change anything about it now. However, you can come out on top during this semester. That’s the biggest piece of adjustment, is learning where you needed to improve, then once the positives start appearing, your confidence will continue to grow as well.
Also, be sure to enjoy the college experience. Take breaks or whatever is necessary to help keep you going during the semester.
I understand how a deflating semester can reduce your confidence. Just remember that the previous semester is over and you can’t change anything about it now. However, you can come out on top during this semester. That’s the biggest piece of adjustment, is learning where you needed to improve, then once the positives start appearing, your confidence will continue to grow as well.
Also, be sure to enjoy the college experience. Take breaks or whatever is necessary to help keep you going during the semester.
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The most helpful advice I can offer to a freshman is to find the RIGHT friends and mentor(s). Stay weary of people and do not trust anyone too easily; make upperclassmen your friends.
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Maybe tell us how many classes/credits you took and what happened last semester so we could guide you?
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Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
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It is important to remember that one so-so semester does not define you. Great strides can be made by increasing your effort level and/or study habits. If the effort was not there, the fix is easy -- study harder. If the effort was there, I would speak to your professors, your kitchen cabinet (friends, mentors, etc.), and read online to see if you can glean any tips for improving your approach. And keep your head up -- you got this.
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Adapt and overcome. Life is full of set backs. You are going to have times where things don't go according to plan, and part of being resilient and adaptable is being able to adjust your tactics and press on. Obviously you know you need to study harder and prioritize better. So adjust and press on. There is no reason why this next semester can't be better.
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I wish I had known about SDN when I did my undergrad. I had a similar experience in my sophomore year. I struggled really hard with Calc I (my TA wrote "Good job!" And drew a smiley face when I finally passed a quiz). I got depressed and discouraged because I couldn't pull my grades up to where I wanted them to be.
My friends were all doing better than I was, and I convinced myself that I was just not smart enough. I have up and switched majors a year later.
After I got a bachelor's, I took time off of school and got some distance to think about what went wrong. I realized that I had been over-loaded with work (I was working twice the hours that my "successful" friends were working because I was putting myself through college) and I was comparing myself too much to people in very different circumstances.
Looking back, I couldn't have worked less because my financial situation didn't allow it, but I should have cut myself some slack and allowed myself to step back from my friends' expectations. They were very well meaning but could never have understood what I had in my plate. I would have allowed myself to take more breaks and stressed less about just needing to sleep.
Now, I'm going back to school for what I originally wanted to do and trying to learn from what I used to put myself through. I'm much happier and my grades are also improving.
My friends were all doing better than I was, and I convinced myself that I was just not smart enough. I have up and switched majors a year later.
After I got a bachelor's, I took time off of school and got some distance to think about what went wrong. I realized that I had been over-loaded with work (I was working twice the hours that my "successful" friends were working because I was putting myself through college) and I was comparing myself too much to people in very different circumstances.
Looking back, I couldn't have worked less because my financial situation didn't allow it, but I should have cut myself some slack and allowed myself to step back from my friends' expectations. They were very well meaning but could never have understood what I had in my plate. I would have allowed myself to take more breaks and stressed less about just needing to sleep.
Now, I'm going back to school for what I originally wanted to do and trying to learn from what I used to put myself through. I'm much happier and my grades are also improving.
