Not ready to be finished college yet

Hairspray

Heya
I am finding it incredibly hard to study for my final set of 4th year exams. I know exactly why too.

Basically primary-secondary i was always either teased/on the outside/the looser/didn't do well academically (i got 10 honors in the J.C and 405 in the leaving, i'm not that stupid). So i have had a rough time in terms of education. I used to hate school, that all changed however when i got to college.

I worked on self improvement towards the end of secondary so that when i started college i wasn't the loser anymore. By loser i mean the person with terrible social skills and painfully shy. The past 4 years of college have been amazing, i started off not knowing a single person and now i have tons of friends. I have gotten great grades, had a wonderful time. It has been without a doubt the best 4 years of my life. I love it.

Now that i am faced with my last exams i just cant get the motivation to study. A part of me thinks "if i fail i can repeat the year" and have a another year of college. I also don't feel ready to finish or face the real world. I have applied to masters programes and even then the idea of doing a masters is scary because i know i wont get the same experience as my undergraduate degree. Basically for the first time in my life i'm really happy and i'm afraid to face up to the real world.

I don't want to fail the exams or come out with a low degree, i just want to be able to study. Does anyone have any advice/ have they ever felt the same at the end of college?

Nhead

Hairspray wrote: »

Heya
I am finding it incredibly hard to study for my final set of 4th year exams. I know exactly why too.

Basically primary-secondary i was always either teased/on the outside/the looser/didn't do well academically (i got 10 honors in the J.C and 405 in the leaving, i'm not that stupid). So i have had a rough time in terms of education. I used to hate school, that all changed however when i got to college.

I worked on self improvement towards the end of secondary so that when i started college i wasn't the loser anymore. By loser i mean the person with terrible social skills and painfully shy. The past 4 years of college have been amazing, i started off not knowing a single person and now i have tons of friends. I have gotten great grades, had a wonderful time. It has been without a doubt the best 4 years of my life. I love it.

Now that i am faced with my last exams i just cant get the motivation to study. A part of me thinks "if i fail i can repeat the year" and have a another year of college. I also don't feel ready to finish or face the real world. I have applied to masters programes and even then the idea of doing a masters is scary because i know i wont get the same experience as my undergraduate degree. Basically for the first time in my life i'm really happy and i'm afraid to face up to the real world.

I don't want to fail the exams or come out with a low degree, i just want to be able to study. Does anyone have any advice/ have they ever felt the same at the end of college?

Heya I also went to Maynooth and it changed my life and I loved my time there. My undergrad days were some of the best of my life but the time comes to move on and as you said you are looking to move into a Masters Degree. Yes, a masters is different but during my masters I met some fantastic people and made some great friends. You have changed yourself so don't be afraid to let the 'real' world see it. Beyond the undergrad there are great times ahead:) btw look at the post you made when you first got accepted by Maynooth and think of how much you have moved on since that time, you'll do the same again!

pakb1ue

A lot of people feel that way when finishing off college.

Another Maynooth graduate here (graduated few months back), I was the same as yourself moved 2 hours away to go to Maynooth and didnt know a single person when I started but by the time I had left I had gotten to know a lot of people. Loved my four years there even final year was good craic.

You said that if you fail you can get another year of college, ask yourself this question will it be the same? Wont all of your class mates be finished? Yeah sure you will know a few but will it be the same craic?

Sure in 4th year I started to feel old as the first years where 4 years younger then me and they seemed like kids to me.

Met up with a few lads from college (some still there others not) there last week. Me and my old house mate (both of us are now working in the financial sector) where saying how much we would kill to go back to college and be a fresher again. But that said we both wouldnt like to go back now as everyone we knew has moved on and it wouldnt be the same. So until a time machine is invented I wont be going back.

Now I am starting all over again, moved to a new city where I know absolutely no one working 40+ hour weeks so doesnt leave me a lot time to get to know anyone outside of work.

Its a part of life you are closing one chapter in your life and opening another.

I still miss college madly but when pay day comes around and there is a few k sitting in your bank account it makes you kinda forget about college :P

Permabear

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Firetrap

For personal reasons, I had to repeat my final year in college so I graduated a year after most of my friends. I didn't enjoy that year as much from a social/camaraderie point of view because so many of my friends had moved on. Either physically because they were studying elsewhere or they were doing different things. It also meant that when I graduated, I didn't have as many people to celebrate with at the ceremony. And as Permabear pointed out, that extra year was noticed by some interviewers.

You must be careful not to idealise your college life. It is a time of our lives which a lot of us look back on fondly but it is not real life. It's a little bubble of slight unreality which young people exist in for a few years but it's something that you will have to emerge from sooner or later. All good things must come to an end and you understandably don't want it to. Just bear in mind that change will happen anyway and you'll get caught up in the churn, whether you want to or not.

I should point out too that being out there in the real world isn't half bad either. There is a lot to be said for having a job, not having to worry about studying or exams and living like an adult.

sashafierce

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LegacyUser

Must be a bit of an ongoing situation with Maynooth graduates. I graduated two years ago and felt the same way you did in my final year. I was also like you in secondary school. I decided to take a year out and did some subbing around the country and am now back in another college doing a PhD. I know it's tough, and college life is the best (and anyone would admit that!), but remember that the people were the ones that made the college and that if you stay in contact with them it will be easier for you to transition.

Failing the year based on your apprehensions is a bit silly, in my opinion. Doing an MA will be just like doing a BA in a lot of ways. Go for the MA, if anything, and don't fail your BA or BSc because of this... An MA will have less lectures, more reading time and all the rest, but you will still be able to get involved in Clubs and Socs and still be a student!

Don't worry, you are still a young guy, I presume, and have years and years ahead of you until you grow up!