TeenHelp - First Year at College...ahhh!!

Well, I wouldn't call my first year of college a "horror story". It is true that I almost failed out in my first year. But I don't think that is something that should freak other people out. Put it this way, I have ADHD with a history of some problems with depression and anxiety (always brought on by things in my life as opposed to it being clinical), so not only was I in a program I didn't really intend to be in (I just chose something cause my parents said to go and I really didn't have a well thought out alternative to counter them with) I also have a high tendency to NOT do things if I find it boring, not to mention I found high school easy so I didn't have good study skills and ended up needing special help from the place that helps people with disabilities. I was also living in a city where I didn't know anyone except my BF from back home who lived 30 mins away and our relationship which started going downhill shortly after starting college put a lot strain on my life as well. I ended up failing 2 classes and getting a few C's and D's, in fact the only courses I got B's in were in politics which was why I ended up changing programs and turning to the social sciences. Why I don't want you to think this is a horror story is because I stuck with it, I changed my program, went part time for a year to sort things out, and started getting better grades. I got my first A's this last semester, sure it took 2 years but I am a full year behind any how because of my first year, changing majors AND going part time for a few semesters. I am MUCH better with my ADHD now (in my attention issues don't affect my school any longer to the same degree) and I no longer have the problems I was having with depression and anxiety due to the stress I was under from various things. I think if anything I am a good person to talk to about going to college, I actually had to struggle so I know more about over coming the challenges that such a big change in your life can cause. I think people who just glided through never really have to worry, sure I don't have the financial issues that some people do, but that's about ALL that I didn't get hit with, which is a blessing because I think if financial stress had been added to the debacle of my first year I probably wouldn't have shown up for my second year. And now I am grateful for the challenges I went through because I think it made me a stronger person and I think it made me more self aware and confident in myself. So THAT is why I don't consider it a horror story. So don't let people tell you bad stories, they just haven't been bothered to grow and make use of their experiences yet.

MY BEST RECOMMENDATION is to contact the disability service office at your school if you have an anxiety disorder. They'll make sure you are getting the help you need in how to study even if your anxious and how to manage stress during exam time and stuff like that. Trust me, it would be better to do that and make it into a TO BIG of a deal than act like it doesn't matter and get screwed over. You can always leave if you think that you aren't really getting anything from them and going to see them WILL NOT show up on your records so employers and/or grad schools won't judge you for being someone who has quote unquote "issues". Example: I don't take their help any more, I just keep in contact with them enough to maintain my accommodations that allow me write my exams in a separate room from my class with fewer people and get time accommodations and stuff.

If you need to talk, please PM me ok.