does anyone ever feel like giving up

elantan

i am a first year student at uni and already i feel like packing it in is this normal? i am finding it alot more boring that i thought i would ...i have a few assignments i have to hand in and cant be bothered to do them .....i have to referance them which i dont have a clue how to do and when i approac people i am told "its ok it isnt that hard " now this might be the case i dont know cause i cant do it...i have to write a reflective piece about a visit we did to a centre now i thought it was utter rubbish and not even slightly interesting ...ok i managed to write that bit ...but how do i referance it ...

i have 3 and a half more years to go and i dont know if i can do it

was wondering if i am alone

Lokolo

Yeh I hate some parts of my course but most of the time I love it. Thats why I picked Computer Games Programming, pretty obvious I would enjoy it!

elantan

see that might be where i went wrong i didnt go for the course i really wanted to do i went for the course that fitted in with my work ...i have to work i have to pay the mortgage etc so i chose a course that fits in with it ...i also happen to work in the field that i am studying in just now as well so that makes it a bit easier...i really enjoy one class though and to be honest with you thats the only reason i am still there

Tigersilly

What's your motivation for studying? Why did you decide to study?

Some aspects of my course drive me nuts, but that's neither here nor there because I'm studying for a reason and I'm very secure about what that reason is. I see the experience as part of the bigger picture. What does studying mean to you?

ragingbass

To OP, I'd say it was perfectly normal!! As said previously, a lot does depend on what your motivation for studying is? Long term career investment? Need letters after your name to move up the ladder? Enjoyment, or interest, of the subject?

You mention you've done a course that fits in with your job so, unlike me, it's not because you're not sure what to do for a job after college

I choose a course that was purely academic and did it because I thought it would be a good long term career investment. Was VERY boring, VERY hard work and think I must've thought about quitting everyday! I'm now very thankful for student nights and cheap beer keeping me there, lol! :beer:

With hindsight, I would've probably chosen what to do a little more carefully and gone for something I was interested in. That said, from almost everyone I've spoke to over the years, studying things academically seems to have a habit of sucking the enjoyment out of any given subject, and often doesn't meet expectations.

What I would say is, few things in life that are worth doing are ever easy so it's only natural to think about quitting at some point and take the path of least resistance. Consider what your long term goal is and go from there.

elantan

thanks everyone for the advice ...my motivation for studying is that i am bouncing my head off of the perverbial glass ceiling...one of my jobs keep asking me to become management but i wouldnt for them under any circumstances the other job it is nepotism at it's best...i work alot of hours every week and do shift work my husband's health isnt great so we need to plan for when he isnt able to work so i need to qualify in something at a higher level than i already am...

we also want to go and work abroad(hopefully to help hubby's health) and the qualification that i am studying does allow us to do that... it really isnt what i want to do though its more what i have to do ...if that helps ...

bestpud

Yeah, been there, and I am doing something I enjoy - happens to us all at some point, I'm sure!

What referencing system do you use, as there are some useful online guides?

elantan

a.p.a i have to admit i dont have a clue about referancing so any help would be appreciated ...i am also glad i dont feel alone in this and that it seems a prity normal thing to go through ...thanks everyone

Zazen999

When you start uni, you are usually told in the notes the system of referencing and how to do it. We got a booklet on it, it ran to about 10 pages.

What system have you been told to use?

elantan

a.p.a american psychological association i think its called ..we were told not to get a book on it as it changes often and is expensive the library had handouts but they are a) out of date now b) none left...hmmmm i think i will look on line for it though i am sure something will be available on the subject

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Hi there. Do you think the 'boredom' may be an underlying fear that you think you can't achieve your degree or that its too hard. Remember well that I would do anything else, such as cleaning the cooker,than sit down and write that essay. As a perfectionist I would't attempt anything because I couldn't get it wrong. The phrase 'don't get it right get it written' was a really useful tool to motivate me. I also started writing down positive affirmations. If you are writing a reflective piece there are lots of models which give you a structure and then you can reference this to reinforce your learning. Yes uni is hard especially if you are a mature student but if you can get together with a few others to support you it makes it so much better.
Good luck with everthing it aint easy especially when you have other things going on in your life but you'll get there if you are determined.
All the best.