I need help, I'm honestly disillusioned by university, and I don't know what to do.

What are you studying? If you don't enjoy it, why are you studying it? What kind of job would you like to do.

Hi, I'll be turning 20 in a few days, and I'm in my first year at a university, and I just can't go on anymore. I really can't, there's no way I'll ever get through the next 2 years without it having a really bad effect on my health.

I was at a different school last year, hated that so I went here, as much as I wanted to believe that it would all change, I find myself feeling the exact same frustration, stress and despair I've been tormented with last year.

At first I thought maybe I felt like this because I didn't engage enough socially with my peers, so I started talking to people, hanging out, going for coffee and all that, but it didn't help. I honestly don't feel any real connection to anybody within my small group of friends here. There honestly isn't a single person here I would not forget within a week of graduation. Yet I still force myself to be as nice as possible to all the people around me, which really just exhausts me.

I think the problem may be in the course I'm doing, it's uninteresting, boring, yet at the same time stressful and demanding. I'm getting to a point where it's getting really hard to fake even the smallest bit of regard for it, and honestly I do not have any. It's not giving me anything, except for useless information I forget right after a test. Some classes are tolerable, but they all ended much too quickly, so I didn't even get short term enjoyment out of doing good in them. I can't say I'm failing (unfortunatley) the last assignment I had, I got an A+ on, but it doesn't mean anything to me, as the course was silly and dull.

The only reaction I have to the thought of having to do another 2 years of this, is that I would do almost anything to avoid it.

The one thing that bothers me the most, is I have to waste so much time and attention on this course that I have no interest even in ever thinking about after I'm out of this school, that I can't do the things in life I love and am passionate about.

To sum it up, I'll just say that if these are supposed to be the best years of my life, then I don't want to see what the worst years are gonna be like.

Could anybody possibly offer some advice?

Hello,

From reading your post it definitely doesn't sound like it's anything to do with friendship connections or you personally - it's to do what your course and all I can say is, if this is the way you feel - you need to start looking at other possibilities.

Normally, I tell people to wait till Christmas and see how they feel but it's nearly here and it sounds like you are still feeling this way. University, obviously, all about the course you've chosen to do and everything else gravitates around that - therefore, if you aren't happy with your course and really don't have the motivation for it and it's dragging you down in every aspect of your life, it's going to make your university experience unpleasant.

I don't like telling people to consider dropping out but it really sounds like your course is nothing that you want to do - therefore, I think you need to have a re-think about what it is you want to do and go from there. I'd definitely suggest going to talk to student support and explaining how you're feeling and your course and see what they say.

My personal suggestion is either way, get to the end of your first year. Just get through first year and then either drop out or continue - I know it may sound daunting but in the long run, it's the wiser decision.

Best of luck

Thanks, yeah, I'll definitely have to stick around for at least the next semester, it helps that I don't have to pay for the school, so at least I'm not in debt.

And the problem is that I know exactly what I want to do in life, but it's got barely anything to do with the course I'm taking.

I don't think it's going to get better after the 1st year, though. If anything it'll probably just get harder and more stressful, and it's going to require a level of commitment I don't and won't have.

Thanks, yeah, I'll definitely have to stick around for at least the next semester, it helps that I don't have to pay for the school, so at least I'm not in debt.

And the problem is that I know exactly what I want to do in life, but it's got barely anything to do with the course I'm taking.

...any creative job really, but probably advertising or something along those lines

I don't think it's going to get better after the 1st year, though. If anything it'll probably just get harder and more stressful, and it's going to require a level of commitment I don't and won't have.

Thanks, yeah, I'll definitely have to stick around for at least the next semester, it helps that I don't have to pay for the school, so at least I'm not in debt.

And the problem is that I know exactly what I want to do in life, but it's got barely anything to do with the course I'm taking.

I don't think it's going to get better after the 1st year, though. If anything it'll probably just get harder and more stressful, and it's going to require a level of commitment I don't and won't have.

I think you've just given yourself your answer there - if the course has nothing to do with where you see your future going then it's probably a good idea to change the path your on and pursue what you want to do with your future instead of wasting your time now?

Best of luck!