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Feeling depressed about uni workload
I've just started the 2nd year of my English degree and I'm finding it really hard to cope with things. This year Im taking a module on Shakespeare because I thought Id really enjoy it but so far I'm hating it. The seminar leader is really uninspiring and difficult to tell your ideas to - hes one of these people who always makes you feel like you've got it wrong and I end up doubting myself all the time. Plus the other people in the seminar all seem really intelligent (they're always talking about all these highbrow essays they've read etc) and I feel like a complete dunce in there 
My confidence is really low at the moment and Im struggling to put my thoughts and ideas across, which makes me feel a bit down. I've tried to talk to my parents about how Im finding this year much harder than the last but they dont understand. My mum just got angry at me and basically said "well you're not stupid so stop acting like you are" and my dad suggested I drop out if I cant deal with it. I really dont want to drop out - I actually want to finish this degree.
Its left me feeling so low. We have to read 3 plays a week and know them in detail for this module - which I find a bit crazy. I was used to doing 3 plays a YEAR at school. Its all so quick and Im finding it hard to keep up.
Does anyone have any advice? Just needed to write how I'm feeling because its just making me so depressed
My confidence is really low at the moment and Im struggling to put my thoughts and ideas across, which makes me feel a bit down. I've tried to talk to my parents about how Im finding this year much harder than the last but they dont understand. My mum just got angry at me and basically said "well you're not stupid so stop acting like you are" and my dad suggested I drop out if I cant deal with it. I really dont want to drop out - I actually want to finish this degree.
Its left me feeling so low. We have to read 3 plays a week and know them in detail for this module - which I find a bit crazy. I was used to doing 3 plays a YEAR at school. Its all so quick and Im finding it hard to keep up.
Does anyone have any advice? Just needed to write how I'm feeling because its just making me so depressed
Reply 1
you will fond really good support on the depression thread if you need it!!
all i can say is im in my third year now and although im doing a different course, i kinda understand where your coming from!! depression flared up in my second year for other reasond but it was hard to deal with whilst trying to do my degree!! i do think though that maybe you should find a lecturor or tutor you feel you can talk and tell them how your feeling!! i dont know what uni you go to, but if you have a personal tutor or something!! or if you have a learning support center or department in uni, they may be able to help you adapt to the demands and work out a time table for you so you feel like you can cope with what you need to do!! take your time!! parents always react in an extrem way, its there nature, but if your problem is persistant they will accept it i hope!! other wise maybe find a local councilor or theropist maybe attached to the uni that can help!!
i know im a bit useless at this stuff, but i hope that helps a little anyway!!
Sally x
all i can say is im in my third year now and although im doing a different course, i kinda understand where your coming from!! depression flared up in my second year for other reasond but it was hard to deal with whilst trying to do my degree!! i do think though that maybe you should find a lecturor or tutor you feel you can talk and tell them how your feeling!! i dont know what uni you go to, but if you have a personal tutor or something!! or if you have a learning support center or department in uni, they may be able to help you adapt to the demands and work out a time table for you so you feel like you can cope with what you need to do!! take your time!! parents always react in an extrem way, its there nature, but if your problem is persistant they will accept it i hope!! other wise maybe find a local councilor or theropist maybe attached to the uni that can help!!
i know im a bit useless at this stuff, but i hope that helps a little anyway!!
Sally x
Reply 2
13
First of all, I'm sure you're not a dunce. The seemingly 'intelligent' people in your seminar just have a better grasp of what your lecturer is talking about and they probably aren't feeling as low as you are.
I think you'd benefit from talking to someone about how difficult you are finding things. I know I'm not at uni yet but I always got a bit low at the beginning of the new term when I was taking my A levels. I confided in a teacher and she helped me to plod through the work and boosted my confidence a little. It's good that you can talk on here but we can't really help you with your work - and I'm certainly no expert on Shakespeare (well, not at degree level anyway)!
If you are really finding this module too difficult is there any way you can drop it or take up something else? It may alleviate some of the pressure.
Make sure you look after yourself and find someone you can confide in. Did you feel depressed before you started uni or did it kick in once you started your second year?
I'm sure you're not the only one in your class finding things difficult. That doesn't make it any easier though. Keep things in perspective and try to do bits at a time. The term has hardly started and you have plenty of time to get your head around things.
I'm sorry your parents aren't very understanding. I think it's great that you want to finish your degree... it shows you have determination and that you do want to do well. You got through last year and I'm sure, in time, you'll start to find this year more manageable too.
Try not to stress out too much. I'm sure you'll be fine.
,
Laus x
I think you'd benefit from talking to someone about how difficult you are finding things. I know I'm not at uni yet but I always got a bit low at the beginning of the new term when I was taking my A levels. I confided in a teacher and she helped me to plod through the work and boosted my confidence a little. It's good that you can talk on here but we can't really help you with your work - and I'm certainly no expert on Shakespeare (well, not at degree level anyway)!
If you are really finding this module too difficult is there any way you can drop it or take up something else? It may alleviate some of the pressure.
Make sure you look after yourself and find someone you can confide in. Did you feel depressed before you started uni or did it kick in once you started your second year?
I'm sure you're not the only one in your class finding things difficult. That doesn't make it any easier though. Keep things in perspective and try to do bits at a time. The term has hardly started and you have plenty of time to get your head around things.
I'm sorry your parents aren't very understanding. I think it's great that you want to finish your degree... it shows you have determination and that you do want to do well. You got through last year and I'm sure, in time, you'll start to find this year more manageable too.
Try not to stress out too much. I'm sure you'll be fine.
,Laus x
Reply 3
Press your uber-intelligent peers for more detail on these essays and enjoy watching them flounder.
Reply 4
I'm a third year English Literature so I know a bit about where you're coming from. I remember the beginning of the second year last year full of unhappy literary types as the workload had suddenly got a lot more intense. You will get used to it though, you're only a couple of weeks in. You must have felt similar when you first started A-Levels - it's a big step up, but once you settle into it, it will get better.
Also, I wouldn't worry about the smart arse students in your seminars quoting essays they have supposedly read. English Literature students are absolutely experts at pretending to be intelligent. I have students in my class who repeat points the proffessor made in a class a few weeks back, but state it as if it was their own, to suck up. It infuriates me. Do try and contribute if you can in classes, but I know it's difficult. I find it hard to think on my feet in the middle of a class.
But you will adjust to it, promise
Also, I wouldn't worry about the smart arse students in your seminars quoting essays they have supposedly read. English Literature students are absolutely experts at pretending to be intelligent. I have students in my class who repeat points the proffessor made in a class a few weeks back, but state it as if it was their own, to suck up. It infuriates me. Do try and contribute if you can in classes, but I know it's difficult. I find it hard to think on my feet in the middle of a class.
But you will adjust to it, promise
Reply 5
13
That's an idea ^ You could ask a friend to help you out. If your lecturer isn't very inspiring then perhaps you just need to talk things over with someone else? e.g. another lecturer or someone else taking your course. You could make things interesting (act out the play or something).
People who speak out in class aren't always super-intelligent. Although I didn't contribute much last year I still managed to do well - despite thinking that everyone else knew more than me. Sometimes people can just give off a know-it-all impression.
People who speak out in class aren't always super-intelligent. Although I didn't contribute much last year I still managed to do well - despite thinking that everyone else knew more than me. Sometimes people can just give off a know-it-all impression.
Reply 6
13
... And like Steerpike said, they suck up.
Reply 7
roobyloo
OP
2
Thanks
Yeah I'm just finding it a real shock...I didn't feel like this at all last year, I understood everything and was quite confident about what I was doing. Now I feel really out of my depth and I hate it.
I might give it a few more weeks and see if it gets easier
Yeah I'm just finding it a real shock...I didn't feel like this at all last year, I understood everything and was quite confident about what I was doing. Now I feel really out of my depth and I hate it.
I might give it a few more weeks and see if it gets easier
Reply 8
good for you! great that your being possitive!! good ideas bout getting a friend to help out!!
xxx
xxx
Reply 9
i'm finding year 2 a real shock to the system too - the workload has just hit me and it seems like its impossible - though i know its not.
you just have to think there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Try and talk to your personal tutor or someone who can help talk things through with you.
Cant you email another tutor in the english dept whom you get on better with to talk about this?
you just have to think there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Try and talk to your personal tutor or someone who can help talk things through with you.
Cant you email another tutor in the english dept whom you get on better with to talk about this?
Reply 10
I thought I'd enjoy my Shakespeare module too, but it ended up being the worst of all my three years.
Is there just the one seminar group for this module, or are there any other groups with different tutors? If you're lucky enough to have other tutors giving seminars, you could possibly ask to move to another one. I've seen it done before with success.
If not, I agree with the other posts that suggest speaking to your personal tutor or another lecturer that you're on better terms with. And if you're feeling brave about it, you could have a 1-to-1 meeting with the tutor you're not keen on and ask for their advice and explain what you're finding difficult. You might find a different side to them that way. And if you don't, at least you'll have tried.
Is there just the one seminar group for this module, or are there any other groups with different tutors? If you're lucky enough to have other tutors giving seminars, you could possibly ask to move to another one. I've seen it done before with success.
If not, I agree with the other posts that suggest speaking to your personal tutor or another lecturer that you're on better terms with. And if you're feeling brave about it, you could have a 1-to-1 meeting with the tutor you're not keen on and ask for their advice and explain what you're finding difficult. You might find a different side to them that way. And if you don't, at least you'll have tried.
Reply 11
Wow its scary how similar this is to my situation! I'm in my second year, also doing shakespeare, and also american literature. And yeah I know what you mean about the workload for shakespeare, especially when the 'smart' ones bring up stuff like greek mythology! Every seminar I have loads of stuff to say, but the seminar leader just dismisses everything I say.
See how it goes, once you get going on essays and get deeper into the module you'll be able to work more at your own pace. Don't bottle it up though, if you really do need that extra support, email your seminar leader or something. I also find that meeting up in small groups helps me to bring up my thoughts about the play, which then gives me the confidence to say something in class.
p.s. if you ever want to pm me, I'll be happy to talk about the plays!
See how it goes, once you get going on essays and get deeper into the module you'll be able to work more at your own pace. Don't bottle it up though, if you really do need that extra support, email your seminar leader or something. I also find that meeting up in small groups helps me to bring up my thoughts about the play, which then gives me the confidence to say something in class.
p.s. if you ever want to pm me, I'll be happy to talk about the plays!
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