I’m in a tough situation right now.
Just finished A level exams and I hardcore flopped without a doubt because I literally did 0 studying and was dragged through almost the whole 2 years, although it’s hard for me to admit it. I never did extremely badly for the topic tests. Although they are easier, I wouldn’t consider myself to be unintelligent. I would understand everything that is taught to me, but would never retain it or make an effort to revise content beyond homework. I would always push tasks and goals to the next day and never do them because of it. Procrastination is a big part of my life and I feel as if it has completely taken over.
I feel as if part of the reason I didn’t revise for finals is because I have no self confidence and just can’t wrap my head around the possibility of myself succeeding. I am my worst enemy, my biggest critic. I constantly put myself down. Every day.
At the start of second year, the fact that I wasn’t revising just hit very hard and I had a total breakdown in front of my teachers. I cried because I care and am aware of what I do and don’t do. I cry because deep down, I know I can do it, but I just don’t put my mind to it. From then on, I cried myself to sleep almost every day for at least two weeks. The next part is probably obvious and cliche, so I won’t go into that. I also missed my mum that had been away for months at that point and just felt more like an overall failure because I’m a young adult. Told her how I felt over the phone but I think she never really understood the gravity of the situation and probably just assumed I was being dramatic. She doesn’t need to anyway; she has fought her entire life to keep me happy and have a good education. Which is what hits me even harder because I feel like I’m not only failing myself but her as well.
Fast track to the next few months, I became emotionally numb to the pressure of having to revise and do well and stopped taking the course seriously. It was rare for me to arrive for lessons on time, which in the back of my head was crazy because, again, I care and was a dedicated student in terms of attendance and punctuality. Mind you I still thought I’d snap out of it and go ham one-two months before exams. Never happened. Didn’t care either.
So here I am debating whether I should retake, if it’s even possible, or get some type of professional qualification/ apprenticeship (which many ask for good A level grades which is a yeet and a half for me). Thought really hard about uni for the past 4 years and never found any course that actually interests me, which could be another red flag as to why I didn’t revise. The idea of doing something I have no passion for at uni is just gross to me as I know that many graduates just go on to work in completely unrelated fields. Yet I feel like that can just be an excuse I came up with for being lazy and stupid.
I have also debated the possibility of moving to another country and starting from 0, learning another language, making friends and trying to be independent and take care of myself. To leave home and detach myself from the ‘spoilt’ mentality I’m in at the moment might be exactly what I need. Thing is, I don’t want to work in retail for the rest of my life. I want to do something mentally challenging. I want to be financially and emotionally stable. I don’t want this to be another excuse for running away from my responsibilities as an adult.
I have considered the possibility of having some type of mental disorder but honestly just can’t see that being a thing; maybe another excuse.
I don’t know what to do at this point and would like to know what others would do if thrown into this scenario.
Thank you for your time reading =)