What do I do now?

LegacyUser

Hello everyone,
I recently realised that my college course is not for me. I told my Parents I want to (officially) drop out (before the half-fees Deadline) but they just called me a waster.
I am not actually a waster. I was just absolutely terrible at my course and have 0 chance of passing.
I have now only gone to 5 classes in three weeks (none since tuesday two weeks ago) and I dont want to go back. My friends are just calling me a Dope but they are doing comparitively simpler courses.
I have a plan for the summer to go interrailing alone for a month just to try to sort out my life and my perspective. and I was thinking of just staying away from home for a few months without contact.
I dont really know what I am trying to ask here. But I guess. In my situation what would you do?

Saint_Mel

What next wrote: »

Hello everyone,
I recently realised that my college course is not for me. I told my Parents I want to (officially) drop out (before the half-fees Deadline) but they just called me a waster.
I am not actually a waster. I was just absolutely terrible at my course and have 0 chance of passing.
I have now only gone to 5 classes in three weeks (none since tuesday two weeks ago) and I dont want to go back. My friends are just calling me a Dope but they are doing comparitively simpler courses.
I have a plan for the summer to go interrailing alone for a month just to try to sort out my life and my perspective. and I was thinking of just staying away from home for a few months without contact.
I dont really know what I am trying to ask here. But I guess. In my situation what would you do?

Do a bit of research into other courses that might interest you and then
maybe speak to a guidence counceller in the college about how to go
about switching into that course next year.

If thats a runner then explain that to your parents and if your happy with
your plan and the college are happy then perhaps seek out some work in
a related area so you might get some experience and an understanding of
whats to come between now and then.

Also it'll bring in some money which you can use to cover your fees without
your parents thinking that your wasting their money.

Irishcrx

This happened to me, collage and certain courses just aint for everybody. I realised in my second year that full time collage aint for me as I wasn't doing well in my course from lack of interest, didn't like the feel of the collage etc. So I explained to my parents that i wasn't happy and I dropped out. I got a job with a management company started at the bottom of the ladder and 2 and a half years later i'm still with that company, in a better position and earning good money, they'll also pay for me to go back to collage in the evening now that i know what I want from it.

Point is don't panick yourself , give yourself time to know what course/job is right for you and make sure YOUR happy not what people say or want you to do its YOUR life and it will come to you in time. Travelling might be a good idea, i'm still only 21 and plan on travelling for a year i'm in no hurry.

whiskeyman

What next wrote: »

I recently realised that my college course is not for me.

Do you know whats for you?

Do you have work experience behind you?


If you're unsure on college, I'd try and get a grounding somewhere. Try an entry level job somewhere (unless you've experience in summer jobs to get you in somewhere else?) and prove yourself in there. While working, you'll be able to look at either going back to college day or keep working and doing a nightcourse.
I'd be wary about just travelling now tbh. Can you afford it and come back to nothing? Sure, it always sounds good, but you need to be realistic for the moment, especially if you're considering cutting ties with your folks? (not advisble).

Overheal

What next wrote: »

I have a plan for the summer to go interrailing alone for a month just to try to sort out my life and my perspective. and I was thinking of just staying away from home for a few months without contact.
I dont really know what I am trying to ask here. But I guess. In my situation what would you do?

Don't burn your bridge before you start thinking about it. If you really have to get away and think about it - do it right now. Take a week or two, go off to some corner of the coast and think. Because what happens if you do all that thinking and realise you should be doing that course after all? Which is why I say do it now.

And not being able to pass? Thats bull****. If you have to get by on the skin of your teeth via final exams then you will. That goes for me too of course.

So go talk to your college counselor, explain the situation and see what they think. If you think you need 2 weeks to think it over they may gladly accommodate you. If you need to find a new course they're there for that too. If you need to find something that isn't college related they can steer you in the right direction.

echosound

If you're absolutely certain the course is not for you, and you have no interest in pursuing it or a career related to it afterwards, I'd make the leap and leave the course. However I'd suggest you maybe get a job of some sorts to tide you over for the moment, and to save towards going travelling otherwise you'll arrive back home owing money, no safety net etc. and that could be an even worse situation for your mental wellbeing than the place you are at now, also you'd probably end up having to move back in with your parents due to lack of funds, and I can't imagine that will make you very happy if you are trying to pay off loans and have your parents on your back about everything.

At the end of the day try to figure out what will make you happy. A young friend of mine spent almost a full year in a course she didn't like, her parents wanted her to stay on, she - like you - started not showing up for classes was miserable etc, then she took the plunge, sat her parents down and told them what she planned, left college, got a decent enough entry level job, and the girl could not be happier. When her parents realised the difference in her (she had gotten very depressed and miserable stuck in a course she hated, whereas now she is happy as a lark and back to her old self, and her confidence is back up to a decent level) they have realised it was for the best, and she can return to college if/when she finds a course she likes and is motivated to do.

Irishcrx summed it up - it's your life, so find what makes you happy, not what keeps other people happy. College is not for everyone, and there are other ways to get where you want to be in life.

BornInThe80's

Forget the job, college is great, you don't want to miss out.

There are ways around dropping out. Speak to the guidance councellor in your college and other colleges. If you really don't know what you want to do, look at deferels. Why don't you like the course, what elements. There are plenty of choices out there, course wise. FAS Opportunities - Croke Park - February 29th to March 3rd. Get yourself geared up for it. http://www.fasopportunities.ie/

Check out all the exhibitors before you go, make a list of courses and jobs that interest you, then go with all guns blazing, get all your questions answered. I still think college is great, but maybe it's not for you, or maybe looking at the eployers and jobs will help you figure out what course you need to get there. Then head on to the Education Village (a section of the exhibit) where you can find that course.

No I don't work for FAS, but I work for a college and I've seen first hand what an opportunistic event this can be....... plus it's free so you can go back as many times as you like until your satisfied.... or until it's over. But definitly worth a look.

Keep the chin up, there's something out there for everyone!

blow69

Hey sorry to hear about that.

I just went back to college in September doing a different course cos i dropped out after 2 months last year! I just didnt like the course and knew i would never pass plus it was so boring. I feel that if you're not interested in something, then it is extremely hard to study for it!

So i dropped out in late October '06(i was 18) and had no job lined up but i walked the city(cork) handing in my cvs everywhere and got a job in Smyths Superstores but i left after 3 weeks.The hours were ridiculous for an 18 year old( eitheir 9-6 or 9-9 everyweek with just saturdays off. So i moved back home(which i hated!) So after a month of walking around the house going CRAZY i got a job at a supermarket in the nearest town which i still have at weekends(but wont be there for much longer:Summer J1:)) and made a lot of money.

So i applied for the CAO February '07 and got my place and was able to afford really cool student apartments. Basically i think that year out did me the world of good.It helped me to mature and i figured out the direction i wanted to go in life.This year is great and im having the best time ever.

So do what's in your head! But try and have a job lined up. I wouldn't officially drop out until you do.At least you dont have to show up.Just live the college life for a while. But you mentioned something about a deadline didn't you?