Miserable at a levels, Should I drop out?
Hello, I am 16 years old and am currently at a sixth form college in my first year of a levels studying Applied law, photography, textiles and retaking maths.
I thought it was the right choice for me and the courses really stood out to me compared to a college but now I am doubting my decision, my main problem is that I don't even know what I want to do in the future and if university is what I need.
I have no motivation and am suffering with some depression and it's really knocking my confidence, affecting my work and in the last week it's started to cause some health problems, I'm even missing days due to all of these problems and I don't even want to get out of bed each day.
These are the same things that affected my GCSEs and the school would never listen to me or help me out and tried claiming that I was just lazy and got me a performance coach which isn't what I needed, I suffered from bullying in the last year of GCSEs that the school never resolved and it was such an important time in my life and it completely ruined my confidence.
I am applying for jobs and have a few interviews lined up and have also decided to apply for college courses that will start in September but I just wanted to know what other people thought I should do.
My family have said they are behind me no matter what I do and if I'm so miserable they don't want me to stay and also that it's never too late for me to decide what to do, there are always way of taking the courses I need later in life.
As I don't know what I want to do in the future I feel like the alevels are pointless and want some time to decide but I'm worried about regretting it and disappointing family members.
Hope someone could give some advice or if anyone has had a similar experience please let me know how it turned out for you.
Thank you.....(sorry for rambling on but I don't tend to speak about my problems often and it's nice to get it out)
I thought it was the right choice for me and the courses really stood out to me compared to a college but now I am doubting my decision, my main problem is that I don't even know what I want to do in the future and if university is what I need.
I have no motivation and am suffering with some depression and it's really knocking my confidence, affecting my work and in the last week it's started to cause some health problems, I'm even missing days due to all of these problems and I don't even want to get out of bed each day.
These are the same things that affected my GCSEs and the school would never listen to me or help me out and tried claiming that I was just lazy and got me a performance coach which isn't what I needed, I suffered from bullying in the last year of GCSEs that the school never resolved and it was such an important time in my life and it completely ruined my confidence.
I am applying for jobs and have a few interviews lined up and have also decided to apply for college courses that will start in September but I just wanted to know what other people thought I should do.
My family have said they are behind me no matter what I do and if I'm so miserable they don't want me to stay and also that it's never too late for me to decide what to do, there are always way of taking the courses I need later in life.
As I don't know what I want to do in the future I feel like the alevels are pointless and want some time to decide but I'm worried about regretting it and disappointing family members.
Hope someone could give some advice or if anyone has had a similar experience please let me know how it turned out for you.
Thank you.....(sorry for rambling on but I don't tend to speak about my problems often and it's nice to get it out)
I'm similar but have no idea what I'd do instead
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by missytwinpeaks
I'm the same really, looking into college courses now but as I'm unsure about what I want to do career wise it's so hard to choose one that's why I think the time would be good to think about it
Hey. So I was in a similar situation a few years ago, and know how difficult it can be to decide what you want to do. A lot of people never do decide. I just studied Art & Design at college, because it's something I'm into, but never really imagined myself working a full-time job in it. I hated college for a number of reasons. I stuck with it until the end, but didn't want to go to university.
It was through an apprenticeship that I decided what I'd like to do. It wasn't a special sort of apprenticeship by any means. I was basically just doing basic administration work for £2.68/hour. I really enjoyed it though, and loved my work. At the end of the 12-month apprenticeship, my wage had to increase so I moved into another department with a position available. That department was marketing.
Marketing is 100% what I want to do, and I'm at university now studying this.
So… in your position, I'd either:
a) Stick with it, as it's no bad thing to have A-levels, and then take some time out afterwards if you're still feeling clueless about what to do next. In my case, what I studied at college didn't have much of an effect on what I'm studying now.
b) Quit now, as you're miserable. It might not be worth prolonging that. You could either try to find work where you'll have a chance to try your hand at some other options, or re-apply to college (my brother's just re-started college at 18, and it's fine). I think apprenticeships are awesome, and the wage has increased now to £3.30/hour.
Whatever you feel is right for you is the way to go. Maybe at the very least I'd stick it out until the end of the first year, just in case your feelings change, but if you're unhappy and don't feel this is likely then there's no harm done at all in quitting now. Maybe you'll even stop yourself from wasting a year or more.
It was through an apprenticeship that I decided what I'd like to do. It wasn't a special sort of apprenticeship by any means. I was basically just doing basic administration work for £2.68/hour. I really enjoyed it though, and loved my work. At the end of the 12-month apprenticeship, my wage had to increase so I moved into another department with a position available. That department was marketing.
Marketing is 100% what I want to do, and I'm at university now studying this.
So… in your position, I'd either:
a) Stick with it, as it's no bad thing to have A-levels, and then take some time out afterwards if you're still feeling clueless about what to do next. In my case, what I studied at college didn't have much of an effect on what I'm studying now.
b) Quit now, as you're miserable. It might not be worth prolonging that. You could either try to find work where you'll have a chance to try your hand at some other options, or re-apply to college (my brother's just re-started college at 18, and it's fine). I think apprenticeships are awesome, and the wage has increased now to £3.30/hour.
Whatever you feel is right for you is the way to go. Maybe at the very least I'd stick it out until the end of the first year, just in case your feelings change, but if you're unhappy and don't feel this is likely then there's no harm done at all in quitting now. Maybe you'll even stop yourself from wasting a year or more.
Original post by Skyf4ll
Hey. So I was in a similar situation a few years ago, and know how difficult it can be to decide what you want to do. A lot of people never do decide. I just studied Art & Design at college, because it's something I'm into, but never really imagined myself working a full-time job in it. I hated college for a number of reasons. I stuck with it until the end, but didn't want to go to university.
It was through an apprenticeship that I decided what I'd like to do. It wasn't a special sort of apprenticeship by any means. I was basically just doing basic administration work for £2.68/hour. I really enjoyed it though, and loved my work. At the end of the 12-month apprenticeship, my wage had to increase so I moved into another department with a position available. That department was marketing.
Marketing is 100% what I want to do, and I'm at university now studying this.
So… in your position, I'd either:
a) Stick with it, as it's no bad thing to have A-levels, and then take some time out afterwards if you're still feeling clueless about what to do next. In my case, what I studied at college didn't have much of an effect on what I'm studying now.
b) Quit now, as you're miserable. It might not be worth prolonging that. You could either try to find work where you'll have a chance to try your hand at some other options, or re-apply to college (my brother's just re-started college at 18, and it's fine). I think apprenticeships are awesome, and the wage has increased now to £3.30/hour.
Whatever you feel is right for you is the way to go. Maybe at the very least I'd stick it out until the end of the first year, just in case your feelings change, but if you're unhappy and don't feel this is likely then there's no harm done at all in quitting now. Maybe you'll even stop yourself from wasting a year or more.
It was through an apprenticeship that I decided what I'd like to do. It wasn't a special sort of apprenticeship by any means. I was basically just doing basic administration work for £2.68/hour. I really enjoyed it though, and loved my work. At the end of the 12-month apprenticeship, my wage had to increase so I moved into another department with a position available. That department was marketing.
Marketing is 100% what I want to do, and I'm at university now studying this.
So… in your position, I'd either:
a) Stick with it, as it's no bad thing to have A-levels, and then take some time out afterwards if you're still feeling clueless about what to do next. In my case, what I studied at college didn't have much of an effect on what I'm studying now.
b) Quit now, as you're miserable. It might not be worth prolonging that. You could either try to find work where you'll have a chance to try your hand at some other options, or re-apply to college (my brother's just re-started college at 18, and it's fine). I think apprenticeships are awesome, and the wage has increased now to £3.30/hour.
Whatever you feel is right for you is the way to go. Maybe at the very least I'd stick it out until the end of the first year, just in case your feelings change, but if you're unhappy and don't feel this is likely then there's no harm done at all in quitting now. Maybe you'll even stop yourself from wasting a year or more.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me
all of this information really helps me, especially the idea of an apprenticeship which I hadn't really considered would be for me up until you replied to me I think it's best if I take the time out now while I'm still 16 so that I can decide what to do in September at least I have some time to decide and hopefully will make the right decision.
I was thinking about taking an art & design course in college all about fashion & textiles as I have always done well in art and actually got really high grades in it and fashion is quite a passion of mine, I enjoy it but people have told me it isn't something you can really have a career in so I'm trying to think more practical for now.
I'm hoping that the job I have an interview for on Tuesday will help me on deciding too if I manage to get it, it's a receptionist position in a spa and it seems like something I would really enjoy and as I have worked in a salon doing the same sort of thing, I know love to work and I am quite good at it.
I really like the sound of apprenticeships as I think that learning on the job is more valuable than sitting in a class room and I think actually doing it is one of the best ways to learn something.
I've just heard it's quite difficult to find them and I really don't know what type of apprenticeship I would like to do, especially if they are limited.
Original post by Mae1399
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me all of this information really helps me, especially the idea of an apprenticeship which I hadn't really considered would be for me up until you replied to me
I think it's best if I take the time out now while I'm still 16 so that I can decide what to do in September at least I have some time to decide and hopefully will make the right decision.
I was thinking about taking an art & design course in college all about fashion & textiles as I have always done well in art and actually got really high grades in it and fashion is quite a passion of mine, I enjoy it but people have told me it isn't something you can really have a career in so I'm trying to think more practical for now.
I'm hoping that the job I have an interview for on Tuesday will help me on deciding too if I manage to get it, it's a receptionist position in a spa and it seems like something I would really enjoy and as I have worked in a salon doing the same sort of thing, I know love to work and I am quite good at it.
I really like the sound of apprenticeships as I think that learning on the job is more valuable than sitting in a class room and I think actually doing it is one of the best ways to learn something.
I've just heard it's quite difficult to find them and I really don't know what type of apprenticeship I would like to do, especially if they are limited.
all of this information really helps me, especially the idea of an apprenticeship which I hadn't really considered would be for me up until you replied to me I think it's best if I take the time out now while I'm still 16 so that I can decide what to do in September at least I have some time to decide and hopefully will make the right decision.
I was thinking about taking an art & design course in college all about fashion & textiles as I have always done well in art and actually got really high grades in it and fashion is quite a passion of mine, I enjoy it but people have told me it isn't something you can really have a career in so I'm trying to think more practical for now.
I'm hoping that the job I have an interview for on Tuesday will help me on deciding too if I manage to get it, it's a receptionist position in a spa and it seems like something I would really enjoy and as I have worked in a salon doing the same sort of thing, I know love to work and I am quite good at it.
I really like the sound of apprenticeships as I think that learning on the job is more valuable than sitting in a class room and I think actually doing it is one of the best ways to learn something.
I've just heard it's quite difficult to find them and I really don't know what type of apprenticeship I would like to do, especially if they are limited.
You're very welcome!
In my personal opinion you'll be doing the right thing for your own sake, based on all you've said. There's absolutely no reason you can't re-apply if that's what you'd like to do, and being only 16 you've got years ahead of you to figure out the right path for you!
On Art & Design courses —
I studied this at a specialist Art & Design college, i.e. it was a full-time BTEC at a college which only offered this type of course. I think it was great, and there are quite a few of them around the country. The career prospects aren't amazing but it sounds like something you'd enjoy, and most people from mine I think went off to universities such as Bournemouth and UWE to study art-related subjects like ceramics, animation or illustration, once they'd chosen what to specialise in.
I regret doing it personally, now that I'm into marketing, and wish I'd done A-levels instead, but I did enjoy the coursework aspects whilst I was there. (I just hated the social aspects!)
On apprenticeships —
I've heard it's quite difficult to find what some people would call a "decent" one, but there's a lot to gain from the kind I did and they're ten a penny. This is actually what the company I worked for did, they were an apprenticeships provider and in some subjects it was often harder for them to find the apprentices than it was to find the employers. If you have a look around for providers in your area, there are probably a few different ones you could hook up with. You'd probably meet and have a chat with them, and they'd be able to find a suitable placement for you.
From an apprenticeship, you may decide to continue working or then decide that you've got a good idea about what you'd like to study, and it's never too late to get back into education. The way I see it is this: I'd never have discovered a love for marketing if I hadn't done the apprenticeship. Therefore, I wouldn't now be at university.
I hope this helps.
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