<p>I just wanted to get the perspective of parents who had kids in college.</p>
<p>I am college student (sophomore), with a pretty good gpa (3.5), but I’m just beginning to feel so tired of college. I don’t know, it’s almost like one of those, “What is the point?” feelings. My freshman year was alright, a lot of ups and downs. I almost ended up transferring, but decided to stay, which was a good decision. Unfortunately, it seems like everything is beginning to feel pointless. I feel as if I should just drop out of college and find something else in life to do. I’m a very adventurous person and this sitting in a desk, doing papers, and calculations is getting a little tiring, boring to me. It’s very tedious. If I told my mother how I felt, I know she would hit the ROOF. I’m a first generation college student and I feel like I have a lot to carry on my shoulder. Life feels like a big whirlwind right now, I don’t know what direction to go into, I don’t know what it feels like to be happy anymore. I don’t want to just jump up and make a really random decision (such as dropping out), but at the same time, I just want to do something in life that seems fulfilling. If you’re confused by my post, don’t be surprised. I’ve been having a hard time thinking straight lately.</p>
<p>I am very glad you posted. My son is a sophomore and we have been talking about how different sophomore year is. When you are a freshmen, everything is new and everyone around you in the dorm, classes, etc. is a freshmen. </p>
<p>Sophomore year is a difficult transition. I think college becomes more like your job and less like a major social project. You go to class and use your other time to do things related to your classes ie your job. It can be boring and it can feel tedious. Your first job out of college will feel the same way at times. </p>
<p>It sounds like you are on the edges of depression. The fact that you don’t feel happy, that you are having a hard time thinking straight, and that your life feels like a whirlwind are signs that you may need some help to make a good decision here. </p>
<p>I would highly suggest that you go to your school’s counseling center and make an appointment to see a counselor. Someone objective who can help you to make the right decision whether that is leaving school or not. </p>
<p>One more thing, with your GPA and the fact that you very successfully completed your freshman year, it would be a shame to just drop out. If you do decide to leave school, try to finish the semester and arrange for a leave of absence. </p>
<p>Please post again and let everyone know how you are doing. There are parents on the site who really do care about the CC students.</p>
<p>I think there truly is such a thing as a Sophomore Slump. Weather it though - if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger (and prepare you for numerous slumps on down the road). :)</p>
<p>Take extra good care of yourself - get some sleep and some exercise.</p>
<p>I agree - sophomore slump seems very common. Nothing cam match the excitement of freshman year or the focus on the future of late jr and senior year. But hang in there, try to get out of your room away from studies at least for awhile every day. Joining a club or intramural team soph year is a good idea to counter the way you are feeling. talk to others, I’m sure you’ll find you’re not alone, but also consider utilizing the counseling center if these general feelings of ‘blah’ don’t improve. Hang in there and good luck.</p>
<p>Are you excited about your classes? Are you having to do requirements that don’t interest you, or are you able to more take what you want to take? </p>
<p>Would a junior year abroad interest you/excite you?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I’m actually very interested in doing study abroad my junior year (probably a semester though). I’m a Physics major (very tedious, but sort of exciting). It’s weird, I have exciting classes this semester, but still, I just don’t feel like nothing I do is going to amount to anything. It’s weird, I’m in a decent amount of clubs, but I just feel like a ghost among a bunch of people. Almost as if I don’t even exist. I’m trying my best to hang in here this year, but who knows what will happen. </p>
<p>Thanks, I really do feel like you all care, which is why I posted this here.</p>
<p>Are you eating, sleeping, and exercizing? Sounds basic-- but so important to feel balanced. </p>
<p>The “ghost” feeling worries me Paradox. We all feel disengaged from time to time, but do use the counseling department if it feels like it has become a chronic condition.</p>
<p>Paradoxbychoice: hugs to you as you struggle. Some questions: you mention being a first generation college student…is some of the issue a bit of disconnect socially and culturally. It is hard to learn the rules and cues of a different society and group of people. You must be very smart, and it must seem to you like you can do this American dream thing, work hard, achieve, etc. But if you are living, working, and studying with students who take many things for granted, things which seem foreign to you, it is all that much harder. If you are a member of a cultural or religious subset, stay connected…it will make you feel more real, and less like a ghost in your life. You mention that you have activites…showing up at a meeting will not help make the connections…you need to volunteer to actually do something for some cause, some group…go walk the dogs at the humane society…make contact with living breathing folks and creatures. And, do not forget the euphoria of physical exercise…maybe hard to schedule, but it will make a difference in your mood and spirits. Are you living on campus? Student affairs staffers at your school are great for conversation and connecting with the community…stop by and see your hall director, make an appointment with your dean of students, reach out…it will pay off! Good luck to you…and more caring hugs from a PS parent. Lorelei</p>
<p>Paradox - stay in college. Once you have your degree, no one can take it away from you. You will have so many more opportunities down the line to do whatever it is you decide to do with a college degree.</p>
<p>My son is adventuresome, as you say you are, and during his senior year in high school he was looking through Craigslist for interesting summer jobs. He found a photographer looking for an assistant to travel around the world taking nature photography, but the photographer wanted someone full time. As my son was starting his freshman year in the fall, he said, “Too bad! If I weren’t going to college next year, I would SO do this!” Then he read the requirements more carefully. The guy wanted someone with a bachelor’s degree. Why?? I think in today’s world, people see the B.A. as something important for personal growth as well as for the information gained. Having it shows commitment, a basic level of competence, as well as attaining a certain degree of maturity. </p>
<p>Stick with it. I would strongly suggest that you look for something interesting to do outside of school for your sanity. My son works a couple of jobs during the school year. He puts in more time working than I might like, but it is important to him and seems to keep him balanced. If that’s not possible, there are many volunteer opportunities and clubs at all colleges. Find something that makes you eager to get up in the morning, and think of your college experience as a gift you are giving yourself for your future.</p>
<p>Not everyone is in love with school and learning for it’s own sake, and there is nothing odd about that. Sometimes reading CC, one gets the idea that if you’re not excited about college, there must be something wrong with you, and you don’t belong. Not true. You have had a different life experience than many of your fellow students, so you may have a different reaction to school and different goals. Just hang tough, get it done (see it as a job, perhaps) find something else worthwhile to make life interesting in the meantime, and keep your mind open for what you may want to do with the rest of your life.
Doubts and soul-searching are appropriate at this time of your life. It’s part of the growth that you’re supposed to be going through. The next couple of years will be over before you know it, however. Hang in there.</p>
<p>Hang in there, OP. There truly is a “Sophomore Slump” (I remember my own vividly and it was over 25 years ago!!). I echo the others about volunteering and exercising; both will take you a long way in getting through it. My DD is also a sophomore in college and I can see that she’s going through many of the same emotions.</p>
<p>Sounds familiar to many of us parents… In my case, I found my “purpose” in my off-campus life. There were several things, mostly political, but the most fun was working with a campaign for local mayor.</p>
<p>I don’t know how big the city is you live in (I was in a large one), but I would suggest - other parents don’t kill me - that you ease off on the studying a bit and explore life around you by getting involved with on- and off-campus groups. Your life might take a surprising new direction.</p>
<p>And if you have problems identifying what to do, your local paper may have the same kind of section that ours does (in the Sunday edition): an entire section of clubs, volunteer activities, and other happenings.</p>
<p>Edit: I just went back and re-read your original post and saw that you said you were an adventurous person. Every college will have a ski club, and that season is coming up. One thing I did was to get involved with the college’s outdoors club, which did mountain climbing, white-water rafting, sailing, hiking, and those kinds of things. They usually had trips every weekend to somewhere exciting. Rappelling - stepping off a 100 or 200 foot high cliff, backwards, with just a rope, will focus you in the present, with nary a thought at that moment of books, studying, or where your life may take you beyond making it down the cliff alive. :)</p>
<p>And one last edit: you need to get your endorphins going. If you can do it, it is absolutely amazing how much physical exercise can brighten your outlook. Get up early and take a long walk or go to the gym for a light workout. Good for you both physically and mentally.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. It was great to get the perspectives from parents from all over. Also, I didn’t have to rant to mom (which for me is a good thing). I’m just the type of person I really don’t like to run and complain all the time to people, but it was one of those instances where I felt very lost and confused. I’m not sure, I may be depressed, but my outlook on life has been this way for a while, so maybe I’m blind because I’m so used to it. I will be trying my best to look for some “adventurous” clubs. Thanks again!</p>
<p>If, after you try all these good suggestions, you’re still feeling blue when you return home for the first vacation, you could go to your family doctor and discuss whether a mild anti-depressant is appropriate. But first try everything else. You can make the appointment now, and break it later if you don’t end up needing it.</p>
<p>My S is going through a similar “slump” in his Sophmore year as well. He misses the excitement of the Freshman year, the comraderie of the Freshman dorm experience and the whole newness of the college experience. In Sophmore year, it seems that lots of kids you got to know the year before disperse, relationships change and new groups form. It can be a confusing time. </p>
<p>My S is going to see how the year pans out. He is joining a Frat, and that seems to be helping. If he cannot change the “Sophmore slump” by the end of this year, he is considering transferring to another school. </p>
<p>Many years ago, I had a similar experience. I was unhappy at the first school I chose and ended up transferring after 2 years. I went from a rural school to a city school and it made all the difference in the world for me. I needed the change. I think it’s not always easy to figure out what the problem is. It’s a good idea to try some of the suggestions mentioned in previous posts and see if you can identify where the problem lies. Then you can go about making the changes to fix it.</p>
<p>It’s weird because I have found that this year is even more exciting than Freshman year and I love my new dorm. Staying at this school has been one of the best decisions of my life. </p>
<p>I think what was bugging me the most was my major. Don’t get me wrong, Physics is such an exciting major, but I also have a keen interest in Journalism. It’s been bugging the hell out of me. I don’t want to make it seem like I don’t what I want to do with my life. Because like I stated earlier, I’m a very adventurous person, kind of open to anything (as long as I’m happy and I can live comfortably). I love the world of Journalism, but I love Physics. It’s impossible here to do a double-major with the two. Although I love Physics, I’m leaning more towards Journalism.</p>
<p>If you were my boy, I would tell you to lighten up and drop a course that bores you and sign up for something really sexy. Make up the physics requirements in the summer if you have to. Take a heavier load another semester–do the five year plan–but don’t let your university years slip by without studying subjects that make you drool and ponder the universe. Two years from now you’ll be pinching yourself to discover how fast the undergrad years disappear.</p>
<p>I’d also tell you to take a good hard look at Physics and where Physics is supposed to take you. You cannot be wildly successful at something you do not love to bits. I learned that lesson the hard way.</p>
<p>Anyway, a 3.5 is an amazing accomplishment. You’ll be successful at whatever you choose to do. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into something that does not excite you.</p>
<p>Here’s an idea: Why don’t you wander over to the school newspaper tomrrow and see if they have aspot for you?</p>