High-achieving to under-achieving student

Hi all,

I’ve had a pretty rocky educational experience and want some advice on how to get myself back up.

my year 7 report card started off with straight 7s, and i was in all top sets. My decline started here, and by GCSEs i only had few high predicted grades left to name the top few:

8 7 7 7-6 6 6

I did not achieve any as i did not revise, nor even really learn. my highest grade was a single 7 and i averaged with 5s. Fast forward to A levels, and i ended up getting DEE due to my strong dislike for them.

i’ve gotten into NTU to do an integrated foundation course, but i honestly do not feel proud of myself at all. I went from a top student in all top sets with top grades to basically rock bottom, and i hate that for myself. i put absolutely no effort into anything, settle for mediocrity, and i’m becoming sick of myself.

Having small hope that 1. i didn’t start off as an underachieving student and 2. the 0% of effort i put in got me although average, better than expected gcses, into a levels (no b-techs) & an ok uni place makes me feel as if there may be some potential in me (as teachers have said for years) and i am grateful for that all, but i can’t help but feel too late to do anything.

I just don’t feel smart or proud anymore, especially when seeing friends/peers who put the work in and got into russel group unis, a position i could’ve been in if i tried. Comparison really is the thief of joy, and i can’t go back in time.

Any life advice other than ‘put effort in’? I feel like a huge failure and wasted potential due to my lack of drive. I don’t struggle with learning at all, i just struggle with starting.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Reply 1

ninoiki

If you feel this disheartened about what your doing. Take that gap year and resit your A-Levels and get a better grade. Then apply for those russel group universities. Initally your friends are temporary, they are not going to be on the same poistion as you and neither would you be in their position. Age does not matter for university. There is ranges of 18-30 year olds in university all starting finishing and still completing degrees. do whats best for you dont look at others and resit and apply again.