Academic Exhaustion

[JayPee]

 

Hi.  i know a lot of people here have college degrees, and I judge from a lot of the chatter that there's at least a few post-graduate degree holders among us as well.

It's about the end of the fall semester here in the states.  I'm a 4th-year student of Mechanical Engineering at a technical college, I have at least 3 more semesters to go before I finish my bachelor's degree.

I'm exhausted.  I've spent about 3 solid years hunched over a desk, doing calculus problems.  I'm really having trouble focusing on my coursework - my brain is like, actively revolting against me whenever I try to study or do homework.  I've sacrificed a lot in terms of personal projects, short-term employment prospects, as well as a social life or romantic life (aside - I'm in my 30s and single) in order to attend school.  I know for a fact that I am absolutely intelligent enough to do the work, but i'm having a lot of trouble maintaining my focus and motivation.  I have like a 2.8 GPA right now, which isn't terrible, but I know I'm capable of being a much better student that I am.  Also I need to have better than a 3.0 GPA for many of the real interesting internships and other opportunities.

What have any of y'all done to get though similar situations? 

 

[adsii1970]

@JayPee Check out the link in my signature - "Legends in our own minds..." and you will see that there's quite a few of us with graduate degrees from college as well as life. what you've described is a part of the challenges of higher education. Let me give you some advice...

• Find an outdoor hobby - I chose hiking. Every Saturday, from 8 until 1, I went hiking in one of the area's numerous state parks. If I did the trail under the time I set aside, then I went and had lunch at a favorite restaurant before heading back to my graduate housing apartment. I did this through my Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D.
• Find a place to escape that's accessible - This is the place you retreat to when you need a couple of hours away. Again, for me it was off campus and I either went to the IHop or even to a mom-and-pop ran bookstore and coffee shop. This helps to fight the brain fatigue when you've been studying or working on a research project for days (or hours) on end.
• Find a hobby that's put-downable - This is for those moments when you need thirty minutes to an hour to get your brain untied. This was a suggestion I didn't know about until I was working on my Ph.D. and it was recommended by a Japanese student who lived next door. She did origami for her quick hobby. I decided to explore drawing. In fact, I still draw, especially during this time of the semester.

Am here if you need encouragement or to vent...