College stressing me out

LegacyUser

Basically, I took a course for the sake of getting to University and I absolutely hate it!
It is not hard, I have no interest in it - it's boring. I want to do a course in the Medical field.
I have suffered from stress over the last few months - bringing on ulcers, stomach problems and basically, the inability to actually get on with other things due to worrying.
I couldn't sit 2 summer exams due to stress. Those I sat, I failed. Tomorrow, the exams are repeat exams are starting and I don't care.

To tell you the truth, I am extremely terrified of leaving. I feel I would be a loser and a failure with no prospects. I don't have many "real" friends only acquaintances so there's nothing holding me there.
I am also conscious of my age (21)
If I was to pursue the 'dream course' it would require returning to get points or waiting for Mature Student age

Advice and experience?

Thanks

Agent J

Retreat is always an option. If you want to just hand back your Student ID before the exams and walk away. That's ok as long as it is your decision. Obviously if you could finish these exams it would give more credits and give you more options however you sound like this isnt a likely situation.

I dropped/failed out at 22 in a course which i really wasnt suited for. I had failed 2nd year and then went back & repeated. I had done well for the 1st 6 months then realise i really didnt like the course. Things went down hill from there.

I felt like hell doing it at the time and went through the same thing of feeling like i failed etc. Everything you are describing. I got a full time job and worked my way up & now have something approaching a respectable job.I have just finished a degree PT in a slightly different field. Also picked up a few other pieces of paper as well.

I found out that in my early 20s i just couldn't learn properly in college. Education full time while working part time just didnt work for me.I was bashing my head off a brick wall and getting no where. It took me a while to adapt myself to learning properly & when i went back a few years later part time i was much better prepared. Working full time and learning part time suited me so much better. Though say goodbye to your social life for a while.

You tried and it didnt work. No shame in that. You aren't on a clock & this isn't a race so please try to discount age as a factor(I thought the same as you). Time is on your side so please don't feel rushed. Take your time in plotting your next move.

Good luck.

Agent J

Meant to put something else in.

If the college has counselling/mentoring services these would be good people to talk to before making any decisions if possible.

seven_eleven

Honestly, I would leave. If you have no interest in it and hate doing it then why are you putting up with all the stress and crap its giving you? You're also pumping thousands away every year into something you dislike.
If you do manage to pass it then you will only be qualified for an area of work you probably equally have no interest in. Are you going to suffer for the rest of your life?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with dropping out and taking up a new course, even if that requires you to wait until you're 23. What medical area are you interested in? Apply to do a FETAC course in nursing, that could get you into your desired area faster than you want.

There's no rush in having to get a degree.

LegacyUser

Thank for the replies. Really appreciate it.

I was thinking of trying to pass 30 credits and repeat 30 credits in different subjects for the year. It would be alot cheaper but I feel I'd only be doing it cause I feel trapped!

I am interested in Nursing. But not the pre nursing as I have heard of people who got no where with it..

I would rather repeat the leaving cert to get the points. I have done two leaving certs so I feel its partially to blame as I went through two years straight of the LC and then right into a course I wasn't 100% excited about.

Financially, I'm not in a great situation. If I was, I would of dumped the stupid course sooner!

Overheal

Je na sais pas! wrote: »

Basically, I took a course for the sake of Getting to University and I absolutely hate it!

Then leave. You entered for entirely flaccid reasons.

your age is irrelevant. I did the same thing, dropped out of it at 20, and now I'm 25, and starting my 2nd year on my 2nd attempt at a degree, in a different field. I'm happy if I have my degree by 30.

If you're worried about your age at 21, you're not being realistic at all.

WumBuster

How long do you have left in this course? If its just another year I'd say try stick it out if you can. If its a finance/accounting/business type course its always good to have a degree like that under your belt. But if its something that you definitely see yourself no chance of going into career wise down the line best just to walk away and do the course you want. Yes you can always go back as a mature student, i dropped out in my early 20's of a course for different reasons and am now in my late 20's back doing a similiar course. Its not that easy as you are effectively putting your life on hold for a few years, and the slog and study dosent get any easier either.