How to change?

TheBiz

How can some change? How can a person change their mentality, their perspective or just their life in general.

I'm 17, I don't know if this type post is even allowed but I need an answer..
I've wanted to become a doctor since the age of 6.. Yet I've always been called 'an underachiever' by teachers. I get a B I get told 'could improve' I'm always told I'm not working to my potential..

I want to change, I want to put everything into my leaving cert for the next two years if it takes me long then it takes me long I don't mind.
But I want to change, I want to prioritise study, I want to remove distractions (phones etc) I want to put everything into this because it's finally hit me that nothing else interests me.. I'm at the point where I become a doctor or I keep trying.

How can I change?

JuliusCaesar

This is probably more suited to Personal Issues as we cannot provide individual advice here in the Psychology Forum. JC.

Sun in Capri

Hello The Biz. You sound really ambitious and motivated so that is a great start. You ask how to change, but you sound quite grounded so maybe you don't need to change, maybe you just need to give priority to your study or look into better ways to study. To study well you need to stay healthy, eat well, take exercise and have some leisure time.

I really wish you well. I admire your drive.

Pawwed Rig

First off all I would comend you on your ambition. I will temper that by saying that the points to get into a medical course are some of the highest out there. Do you honestly think you are capable of attaining these points in the leaving cert? If so then go for it hell for leather and best wishes for it.
If not, there may be other ways to achieve your goal so look into other options or routes to medicine.

Buona Fortuna

Hi OP - I think very few of us trully reach "our full potential".

You said you got a "B" and the teacher said "Could do better" - Isn't that better than getting a "B" and teacher saying "well done" (thinking that's the best you can do).

Someone thinks a lot of you

I really wish you well OP - knuckle down and you'll get there.

castaway_lady

Hi OP,
Well done on taking the initiative to look for the answers you need to get you where you want to go. You clearly have a good level of maturity.
Now with that maturity you need to get specific with actions, what I mean by that is "full potential" kinda language is vague and wishy washy. Sure who even knows if medicine would be use of your full potential or would being a rocket scientist or Olympian etc etc. So dump that perfectionist ideal, it's more harm than good.

After that you get to work on those specifics. Firstly before term starts make sure you know the Leaving Cert points for medicine. You're probably aware that it's points plus HPAT points. So even to get your LC points wouldn't be a guarantee of a place but you need those points to keep it as an option. After that you also need to plan your backdoor entry options i.e. which undergrad degree will be most help to you if you take the postgrad medicine route while also keeping other career options open (maybe biomedical science/ paramedical careers).

On Monday, approach your teachers and ask for specific feedback. Tell them your plan so they can help you get there as much as possible. Ask them what does "could improve" mean in practical terms, where are the gaps? What can you do each evening to fill that gap? You don't have the information right now but you badly need it. To get it you need to ask the question. Catch a teacher at the end of the day maybe, one each day until you have spoken to all, take notes of their advice. But this week prioritise getting the information. If those comments are whats appearing on report cards then maybe report cards are being done on software with limited comment options to pick. Either way you need specific information.
Read up on study skills. Maybe you'd study better using exam papers for instance as a means of keeping focused.
You only mention phones as a distraction, not the likes of tv- so maybe a parent keeping the phone out of reach until you break the habit is your practical strategy there.

So overall Im saying get acting on specifics instead of knocking around vague concepts like "full potential" in your head- that's a waste of focus and time.

Rubberchikken

If you're determined, then you'll do your very best to succeed.
But at 17 you need to balance the study with some down time and enjoying your teens.

Set up a study plan and stick to the hours needed to study each week. Talk to your teachers/year head for advice.

But spend time with friends/family. If you have a hobby then enjoy that too.
Best of luck

TheBiz

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and tips on improving my study.
Couldn't ask for more really got the answers I need because at the end of the day it's down to me putting the work in