Life is stuck. I am paralyzed. I can't move forward.
The story
I’m done with my life. The academic session began in April, and my exams are scheduled for the end of January. Right now, August is already halfway over—it’s the 20th today—and I feel like I’ve fallen far behind. Most of my classmates are ahead of me, while I struggle to understand anything in class. It feels as if I’ve been dropped into a higher grade where I don’t belong. Everything seems beyond my grasp.
It stings to see my peers following along with ease while I just sit there, staring at the blackboard in confusion. I was never like this before. For the first time in my life, I feel lost in class. This is 10th grade, and I feel trapped, unable to move forward, constantly pulled away by distractions.
My laptop, which should be helping me study, has become my biggest enemy. Social media, random motivational YouTube videos, anime content, Instagram scrolling, venting to strangers online for attention, even sleeping after school—these habits are dragging me down. I thought my relationship with a classmate was a distraction too, so I distanced myself from her. But even after cutting off contact, nothing changed. I can’t blame her anymore—this is my own battle.
I barely scraped through the first unit tests with poor grades, cramming the night before exams. If I’m honest, I haven’t properly finished a single chapter to the point where I could confidently answer questions from it. I’m still procrastinating every day. On top of that, I struggle with the habit of watching porn, which only makes me feel weaker and more paralyzed.
I know what’s happening to me, but I don’t act on it. It feels like I’m waiting for some dramatic “rock bottom” moment—like in movies where the main character suddenly rises to the top after hitting their lowest point. But in real life, that moment never comes. Time just keeps slipping away.
Part of me dreams of becoming the top student in class, but right now it feels more like a fantasy than a real possibility. Even if I somehow worked hard, gave my all, and fought through every distraction, I know people wouldn’t see the effort behind it. They’d assume I succeeded easily, because I’ve always been considered a “good student.” That’s why I sometimes feel the need to tell my classmates about my struggles, as if my poor marks in the first unit test are proof of where I really stand.
But the truth is, I’m still waiting for something outside of me to change my situation, even though I know nothing magical is going to happen. My parents keep scolding me and comparing me to others, which only makes me feel worse. I want to rise to the top of the class, but right now, it feels impossible.

Stories in the same category
Points of view
mate, sounds like you're in a tough spot, but waiting for a "rock bottom" moment isn't it; life’s not a movie. procrastination is a beast, but you gotta face it head-on—no one's gonna do it for you. cutting off distractions like social media can really help. your parents’ pressure sounds intense, though you shouldn't let that define you. talking to a counselor might help bring clarity. remember, it's not about being the top student, but improving step by step;
dude, you’re seriously overplaying the whole "waiting for rock bottom" thing; that's just an excuse to avoid dealing with procrastination ;-)
life doesn’t come with a script or dramatic turnarounds; you’ve gotta make those happen. i mean, ditching social media and anime could be a good place to start. your laptop's not your enemy, it’s just a tool you’re misusing. ever heard the saying "you are your own worst enemy"? it totally applies here. your parents comparing you to others is unfortunate, but you're the one driving this bus, not them. aim to be a 'better you', not just top of the class; stop waiting for the "plot twist" and start writing your own story.
i get where you're coming from, but the whole "waiting for rock bottom" idea seems a bit off; life's not gonna hand you that dramatic moment on a silver platter. when I was in school, I felt overwhelmed too, like everyone else had it together and I was just stuck. in reality, a lot of people feel like that, but they just don't show it. it's great that you wanna improve, and you sound like you really care about your grades. maybe try breaking down your goals into smaller steps, like tackling one distraction at a time. it helped me to set mini-goals daily, and it made studying feel less like an impossible mountain. keep pushing, and try not to be so hard on yourself. you've got this, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.
hey, honestly, I kinda feel like you're overthinking the "rock bottom" thing; life's not as dramatic as movies. procrastination is a real problem, but blaming distractions isn't completely fair 🤔; you've got to find a balance. cutting off from friends isn't always the fix. the term "self-discipline" comes to mind, and it's something you could work on. parents can be harsh, but maybe they just want the best for you, even if it doesn’t feel that way. aiming to be top of the class is cool, but remember the phrase, "slow and steady wins the race"—progress is still progress.
i get you're feeling down, but stressing over hitting "rock bottom" honestly seems pointless; from my own experience, waiting for some magic moment to change things usually doesn't work. when I was in a similar jam, I had to face my bad habits head-on. it wasn't easy, but sitting there hoping for some miracle isn't gonna help you. distractions like social media aren't your only enemies—it's also a mindset thing. focusing on small wins can help, even if they seem trivial. sure, your parents' pressure isn't fun, but try to use it as motivation instead of letting it weigh you down. the sooner you take small steps, the better you'll feel about things.
honestly, I see where you're coming from, but the idea of waiting for "rock bottom" to turn things around seems counterproductive; from my own experience, change happens when you decide to start, not by waiting for some dramatic event. once, I was caught in a similar cycle of distractions and low motivation—spending too much time on social media, chatting with mates, and just procrastinating in general. it was tough breaking out of that pattern, but realizing that drastic change isn’t just gonna knock on my door was a game-changer. sure, your laptop and social media can be massive distractions, but they can also be tools for learning if you use them wisely. motivation doesn't always come from dramatic moments; sometimes it’s found in the decision to do things differently, even in small ways. that’s where the real journey starts.
i can relate to what you're going through, and it's really tough; the feeling of being out of sync with the academic calendar can be overwhelming! when i was in a similar situation, i found myself questioning why everyone else seemed to have their stuff together while i was struggling—so frustrating! your point about distractions is spot-on—technology can indeed become a double-edged sword. it’s great that you’ve identified where things are going wrong, which is the first step towards improvement. maybe try setting specific study schedules or reaching out to teachers for help? it did wonders for me back in the day. it’s a process, and taking those small steps can make a huge difference in getting back on track! you've totally got this!
totally feel you on this one. balancing distractions with schoolwork can be a nightmare 😅. the way distractions creep in, especially online stuff, is super relatable. sometimes it feels like the harder you try, the more they pull you in. maybe breaking down tasks into tiny goals might help? staying focused is tough but taking small steps could ease the stress. cutting off from people isn't always the answer though. try not to be too hard on yourself, you're aware of the issues, and that’s a good start. keep pushing through!
i completely understand your struggle, and I must say you're not alone in this!!! it genuinely feels as though everything is spiraling out of control, and the pressure can be overwhelming 😓. remember the time when I was in a similar spot, feeling outmatched by classmates and lost in a sea of uncertainties, it was just as daunting. you're absolutely right about technology morphing from a helpful tool into a distracting nemesis. that tendency to procrastinate, getting dragged into endless scrolling sessions or binge-watching, can be incredibly hard to fight off. what's crucial is recognizing that you're already making progress by acknowledging these issues!!!! just taking it one day at a time, focusing on incremental improvements, can make all the difference. i'm cheering for you on this journey, and have faith that you'll navigate through it successfully! 🌟
honestly, sounds like you're in a rough patch, and I get that 😬. academic stress can feel like a never-ending cycle. the distractions you're facing are real, and it seems like your laptop is more of a hindrance than a help right now. back when I was struggling, it felt like tech was the enemy, too. separating your study space from your chill zone can help manage that chaos. focusing on one thing at a time, instead of letting everything overwhelm you, is critical. get it together and take control of your schedule. wasting time whining won't help so start acting on it. it's tough, but you've got to take responsibility if you want to see a change. keep pushing, and don't let the noise drown you out! 😉
it's clear you're having a rough time, and honestly, i can relate to the academic stress and pressure weighing you down. you mentioned feeling as if you're in "a higher grade where you don't belong," and that resonates with me; it's easy to feel out of place when comparing yourself to others. but constantly making excuses about distractions isn't going to solve anything. technology can be a major distraction, morphing from asset to liability quickly, and unfortunately, social media is particularly consuming. from personal experience, attempting to cut out distractions might help, even if it seems impossible at first. life isn't like a movie, where dramatic shifts happen suddenly—in reality, progress often inches forward slowly. you’ve got to actively make changes instead of waiting for some cinematic epiphany. quit whining, start taking control, and steer your narrative actively, instead of passively hoping for turnaround.
sounds like you're under a ton of pressure right now, and i totally get why you'd feel overwhelmed. been there myself when everything seemed impossible to manage. when you mentioned technology turning into your biggest enemy, i couldn't agree more 😫. those distractions are deceptively sneaky, right? have you tried setting strict boundaries for yourself on social media usage? just a thought; the constant scroll can really eat away at your time. it seems like you're putting a lot of weight on the idea of a "rock bottom" moment to spur change; in my experience, taking small steps toward improvement instead of waiting can help take some of the burden off. why not start by tackling one subject at a time to regain some footing???? you've got this, even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes!
i get that things feel tough right now, but relying on hitting "rock bottom" isn't the best strategy. life's not a movie where everything magically turns around. distractions are everywhere, and yeah, they can be hard to manage 🙄. but cutting off from people or blaming tech alone won't solve everything. self-discipline plays a huge role. instead of waiting for a dramatic change, maybe try tackling things step by step. it's easy to feel overwhelmed, but small progress still counts. give it a shot, and you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.