Fear of classes

[Shadowsong]

I don't know why this is happening now, but firstly, I've always been a hard-working student, I'm that geek who loves homework and loves studying and loves tests, of all things. However, I'm signed up for an honors course and an AP course, plus a foriegn language, plus the other required classes, and tri electives, and honestly I'm feeling quite intimidated right now. The workload, or what I think it will be, is scaring me to death. I know I shouldn't worry about it until it comes, and honestly I can always drop the AP if it's too hard (no way I'm dropping English Honors!!!) but my folks probably wouldn't let me do that, I don't think.
Anyways, I think I just need a bit of energy to help me get out of this rut and maybe get me thinking clearly. Life's tough personally now, and this isn't helping. Of course. But I'm so stressed over these upcoming classes that it's really weighing me down, but I suppose that's how it works with depression, the little things hit hardest. I dunno. Anyway I'll quit rambling now... and sorry to be a bother (I know, I say that every time but I mean it!)

[Jenne]

Calming energies sent! Hang in there--you can do it!

[Tom Bombadil]

F.E.A.R - False Evidence Appearing Real

If your shadowy-self can handle it *laughs* go out tomorrow around noon, turn your face up to the sun and tell her Tom Bombadil sent ya.

[oddgrace]

I like that Tom. FEAR. :) Shadowsong, sweeting, calming energies sent, plus support and understanding! First of all, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. And remember, you can drop ANY of the courses if they are too much. Which are you taking by the way??? and what is the AP?

[Shadowsong]

Thank you all so much! As for my classes *takes a deep breath*:
AP World History
Biology
Spanish III
English 10 Honors
Core Plus Math III
PE (with the 'drill sergeant', I hope)
And tri electives are:
Behavioral Sciences
Acting
Either Civil War History (and Iowa's role) or Video Productions
Yea, there it is. And I really, really like the FEAR bit, Tom, that's really quite clever!

[frigga]

Energy sent. You can do it! Take it from someone who's going through the same situation in college. My thought: Don't get upset about it now, it may hurt more than being excited about it. I developed test taking anxiety over the same problem--fear and worry. :hearthear

[Tom Bombadil]

And I really, really like the FEAR bit, Tom, that's really quite clever!

I wish I could take credit for it...or at least give proper credit for it. I only remember it as the wake-up call it was meant to be. It took a universal smack upside the head for me to realize the difference between procrastionation and avoidance! Fear of failure in my undergrad and graduate classes (I'm sensing a trend, here. :hmmmmm: ) caused more failure than any lack of talent possibly could have. The F.E.A.R thing, and the Litany Against Fear *grins*, were two big tools in overcoming it. It wasn't so hard, in retrospect. I think those of us who are good students and enjoy school sometimes begin to identify too much with our successes, so the first thoughts of failure threaten our own being. Pretty scary! But silly...if you think about it. You really aren't your grades. Though I don't know if I would have believed it if you'd told me that when I was in high school.

Heehee...I remember being absolutely terrified of my English AP class. The prof was tough, but amazing. I and a lot of others in my class got a 5 on the exam, and I'm sure we could have all gone out and gotten professional writing jobs if we'd wanted to.

[Shadowsong]

When did you take your English AP class? I'm not worried too much about English Honors, don't know why it's the AP World History that's scaring me so much, although the teacher did say it was about an hour of homework a night, for that class alone. Oh well, I'll live.
And the grades thing, I'm so stressed over them! I don't think my folks agree that you aren't your grades. *groans*
Glad you recognized the litany against fear, though! Not many do, or at least they don't say so.

[Willow Rosette]

Oh my that is a huge work load. Watch your dead lines so if your feeling overwhelmed you can still drop and not be penalized. Now having said that I have no doubt if you feel you can accomplish those classes then you really can. Instead of being worried about taking them you should be proud that you are capable of taking them. I would never ever dream of taking such hard classes much less all together. I think it is truly amazing that you can. Energy sent that you see how capable you really are. :thewave:

[Aleannah]

calming and "one day at a time" energy sent :hugz:

[Tom Bombadil]

When did you take your English AP class?

Hm...that was senior year of high school, so '96/'97. *gawps* Wow, just under 10 years ago. I feel so old, ha! But by "when" you probably meant the senior year part.


And the grades thing, I'm so stressed over them! I don't think my folks agree that you aren't your grades. *groans*

Uck...and then that thinking starts to rub off on you, too! Hehehe...look back at what you just wrote. You're all calm and accepting of the challenge of an hour of homework for one class, and then the thought of getting a bad grade freaks you out! You're not afraid of your classes...you're afraid of something else that hasn't happened yet. Let that go. Ack...I know its tough. I know how exactly how many people are telling you you are your grades right now! Teachers and college entrance applications and guidance counsellors and parents, too? Sheesh! Why do they do that to students? :seehearsp

When I look back, I think the worst thing that happened to me when I was in your shoes was that my motivation for learning became "to get good grades" and I completely forgot the time when my motivation was "because it's fun". Hello burnout, welcome bad grades!!!! In fact, the biggest piece of advice about AP courses I could give you is to do them for YOUR OWN SAKE. I got a 5 on the AP, and all it ever got me was a 5 on the AP. :D And after all those stories of being handed college credit on a golden platter if I did well on the AP tests...*laughs*