my grades are slipping and it’s destroying my self-worth
The story
i’ve always had straight-a’s. i want to do good and feel accomplished once i graduate. i used to always feel so motivated to do my best, i actually had energy, i always felt like i was in control.
lately, it’s been different. i know i might be getting “burnt out” but im losing it that motivation. my a’s are turning into b’s and c’s. i know there’s bigger problems in the world but im not used to this. my motivation is gone, my homework is piling and missing assignments are growing. im so ashamed. i feel guilty for letting it get to this, but at the same time i feel like i shouldn’t feel guilty because i did this to myself. i always dd everything myself. i have no one else to blame.
most teachers are understanding and give me extensions on big assignments that i miss, and most of the time i do them. but there’s one assignment that i just can’t do. it’s killing me. its this speech for my english class. i had all of christmas break to do it. i have really bad anxiety when it comes to public speaking, so i couldn't bring myself to even start the speech knowing that i had to speak. knowing the inevitable end result, i had my first panic attack and missed my second day back from break because of it. i was given an alternative opportunity by the teacher to just give the speech to her and a few friends, but with the pile up of other assignments for my other classes, i couldn't start it even with the alternative. i lied to the teacher about my progress, and i feel horrible, and she found out. she found out that even with the accommodation and that im way passed the due date, i havent even written a sentence because i’ve been so focused on other assignments. ive never done anything like this before. im not a bad student, or maybe i am just slowly turning into one. i dont know what i’m doing. i dont know if it's my stress or im just overthinking everything.
im constantly exhausted and tired, but i dont know who to tell. i have support around me, but i hear it so much it doesn’t sound genuine. it feels like if i actually tell someone they’ll just brush it off. its like when you ask someone “how are you?” and you hear it so much that you just expect them to respond with “im good, how are you?” that if they say anything else they’ll judge. if i actually open up, they’ll judge. i dont recognize what i’m doing. its not procrastination. or maybe it is, but i cant turn my brain off. im losing sleep from stress and all i want to do is sleep, because that the only time my mind is quiet. i want to sleep, but i hate waking up. i wish i could just shut off my mind forever.
i feel like a fraud. i’ve always had high expectations, but not meeting them for the first time is crushing me. i dont know what to do anymore. i feel like a failure, and i’m so scared. i dont wanna let my parents down. they’ve always been so proud. i dont think they’ll be proud when they see my report card. i never wanted to let them down, never wanted to let myself down. but i’ve done both.
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Points of view
It's tough to feel stuck like that, especially when you've always been so driven. It sounds like you're really hard on yourself, and maybe you just need a breather to reset your perspective a bit?? You're not a failure—sometimes things pile up and it gets overwhelming. Maybe talking honestly with someone you trust could help lighten the burden? You're not alone in this, even though it feels like it!!
I've got to say, it sounds like you're overthinking this whole situation way more than necessary. Yes, things are tough right now, but it's not the end of the world; students all over are going through similar challenges, and grades fluctuating doesn't suddenly make you a bad student. Anxiety over public speaking is common—more common than most people let on—and it's astounding how much pressure is put on kids to excel in everything simultaneously. You need to cut yourself some slack and stop allowing that guilt to eat away at you. Failure isn't about slipping up once or twice; it's giving up entirely, and from what I see here, you're far from quitting.
let's be honest here: burning out is a real phenomenon, and it seems you've hit that wall, which can make even the simplest tasks feel like they're insurmountable mountains; while it's understandable to feel guilty about not meeting your own expectations or those of others, this excessive guilt serves no productive purpose. focusing on the intricate dynamics of performance psychology, it's worth noting that perfectionism often paralyzes rather than propels individuals forward. have you considered how maintaining an unsustainable pace might have contributed to this state of complete mental exhaustion? sleep deprivation exacerbates stress-related issues; prioritizing self-care over academic perfection might be the necessary recalibration for long-term success.