Well, my life's stuck in limbo for the next year...

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Not-here-anymore

In brightest day...
Nov 18, 2009
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Possible wall of text incoming, sorry...

About 3 weeks ago, I started taking medication for my depression. Within about a week, I felt a little better; enough to realise how bad the whole depression episode had been.
A week after that, I had to do my end of year exams at uni, having failed some and withdrawn from others the first time in May (because of health issues, i.e. the frequently mentioned depression).Thanks to the meds, I had about a week in which I was mentally capable of doing any studying for the exams. Which, it seems, turned into a single week in which to learn the entire year's course, as thanks to my mental health through the rest of the year, I hadn't actually taken in any information. Naturally, I failed.
Unfortunately, because I passed 2 modules of my course that were entirely assignment/coursework based, the university refuse to let me redo the year's study, so I'm stuck with the crappy marks I got in those modules and the one module I scraped a pass in somehow. Instead, they'll let me take the exams again next May.
So, I have an entire year in which I'm technically not a student, and therefore unemployed, and very little idea what to do. But I can't really take the whole year and do something interesting, because I'll have to take the time to learn this stuff well in advance of the exams.
I guess I could go to the lectures anyway (200+ person lectures means no-one would notice), but... I dunno. It kinda seems a waste, seeing as all the notes are available online.

tl;dr - depression screwed me over, now I have a year between studying with very little to do. What do, escapist, what do? Crazy ideas welcome.

Also, anyone else ever been in a situation that could be described as in any way similar?
Anyone here go on a gap year who has advice for fun things to try?
Anyone else think the above post comes across as maybe a tad self-absorbed? The word 'I' is in there far too often.
Oh, and any other escapists at Durham university? If so, hi!

EDIT: And sorry to anyone expecting a thread about either Inception or the independent game. Although both are good!
 

Griphphin

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Jul 4, 2009
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I wouldn't say the post is too self-absorbed; a story to give the discussion context in the first person's going to have a lot to do with you specifically.
I'd say attend the lectures anyway, do your best to study the material that you couldn't before so that this next year will feel less like a waste, and more like making up for time lost, and preparing yourself for the challenges to come.
Sounds pretty boring in retrospect, but go for it.
EDIT: Citrus's idea is also good, either way don't let the year go to waste.
 

Pariah87

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Jul 9, 2009
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Citrus Insanity said:
Get a full-time job, save up money, pay off your loans, etc.
I'm going to disagree with this in a way. Of course you need money to survive on but you need to enjoy this year and however many years of Uni you have left. So many people go to Uni now that there are not enough jobs to meet the demand. As a result, even if you come away with a degree there's a chance you'll end up having to do some soul sucking menial job like a few of the people I work with.

3 years at Uni, thousands of pounds spent on a degree, yet they still have jobs paying only £15k a year if that, simply due to lack of job options avaliable to graduates. Let me tell you, once you enter the world of full time work, the next 40 years look like one hell of a long stretch. Suddenly you have levels of responsibility you didn't know existed, you have to work your free time around your job, no more 6 week summer breaks to relax or see mates in. That's not to say life is entirely shit, it's just life after education ends, you adapt and get used to it. If someone offered me a year though, said take a year and do with it what you will, I'd make sure I bloody well enjoyed that time knowing full well what I'll be going back to after.
 

Not-here-anymore

In brightest day...
Nov 18, 2009
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Citrus Insanity said:
Get a full-time job, save up money, pay off your loans, etc.
Unfortunately, you're probably right. It just sounds a little... dull, really. Not in general, just given the fact that I have this whole year essentially to myself: I kinda want to go somewhere, see the world a little, but at the same time, I'm a little scared to go ahead and do that.
I guess a part-time job could be a good compromise, balancing it with lectures (even if that's technically stealing education) and some kind of travelling.
 

Paksenarrion

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Mar 13, 2009
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Attend classes.
Find like-minded people.
Climb up and down on desks and classroom furniture before or after class, yelling "PARKOUR!!!"
Form tight-knit study group because of it.
 

quantum mechanic

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Jul 8, 2009
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Hehe. I thought this was about Inception for a few seconds.

Going to class might be a useful way to absorb information (it works better for me than just reading). Getting a job to reduce college debts would potentially reduce stress in the future.

Good luck!
 

SimuLord

Whom Gods Annoy
Aug 20, 2008
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I had a "lost year" between '08-09. I got fired from my job at the bank in August '08 (see my Escapist join date? Yeah, I was bored.) I tried my hand at freelance writing for a bit, didn't make any real money at it, bummed around the house making my then-wife feel like she was married to the biggest bum in the Wasteland...worked for a fly-by-night tax place in the spring of '09.

Then I decided to go back to college. On track to graduate with dual bachelor's degrees in 2012 (hey, if you're gonna go, go whole hog, right?) May even end up with a master's degree in three academic disciplines (accounting/finance/economics) by the time I'm 40. Endgame is a professional license and a six-figure salary. Also, I divorced the aforementioned spouse and got the wet blanket off me.

But that year was ROUGH. It does get better. Honest. If you're willing to put the bad times behind you and persevere, your diligence will be amply rewarded.
 

Furious Styles

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Jul 10, 2010
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Don't, whatever you do, become isolated at home on your own or anything like that. That'll make things worse, be proactive in spending you year doing worthwhile stuff.

Take up a hobby, go traveling, whatever just don't spend the next year in front of your TV.
 

Mstrswrd

Always playing Touhou. Always.
Mar 2, 2008
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Attend what lectures you think you need to, but if you think you have a decent grasp on it, get a job, either part of full, and preferebly one with potential for overtime.
 

Shockolate

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Feb 27, 2010
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Twice.

The first was in grade 9 (age 13) which was very touch and go. While I did manage to salvage 5 credits (three first semester, two second semester) I was very behind, which later came back to haunt me.

Most notably is this past year, when I broke down mentally and stopped going to school in October. 8 credits down the drain, plus the ones I missed in grade 9 left me with 21 credits, 9 away from graduating.
 

Quaxar

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Sep 21, 2009
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How could you have depressions? You're studying physics!
I kid. But still... you're the closest a human can come to being a mage at the moment.

Of course I too agree on the job thing. Or, at least as far as I am aware, you could do a one-year red cross duty (however it is is called). You'll get good medical training and a lot of interesting stories out of it.
 

Not-here-anymore

In brightest day...
Nov 18, 2009
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AjimboB said:
J03bot said:
Citrus Insanity said:
Get a full-time job, save up money, pay off your loans, etc.
Unfortunately, you're probably right. It just sounds a little... dull, really. Not in general, just given the fact that I have this whole year essentially to myself: I kinda want to go somewhere, see the world a little, but at the same time, I'm a little scared to go ahead and do that.
I guess a part-time job could be a good compromise, balancing it with lectures (even if that's technically stealing education) and some kind of travelling.
The reason you have this year off is because you failed a bunch of classes, you haven't deserved to use this year to travel the world.

I know that might be harsh to say, but seriously, if you've already failed the classes you either need to attend the lectures so you don't fail again, or barring that, get a job and study in your free time. No whimsy and wonder in a foreign land for you.
I'm aware of that, but there was nothing I could have done to alter that outcome. My mind was... well, broken, for lack of a better word. It took almost all the effort available to me to simply remind myself to eat; some days I just kind of forgot. When trying to do something as simple as that takes genuine mental effort, studying is out of the question.
So, whilst it seems a little childish to say it, it's not entirely my fault I failed, and as such, I plan to avoid the consequences as best I possibly can.
But no, it doesn't seem harsh to say. If anything, I'm surprised it took as long as it did for someone to suggest it!
 

mettle_edge

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Aug 7, 2010
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Straight out of high school I took a semester off(mostly due to a bad money situation) and got a full time job as a carpenter. It really helped me to save up for school , and I also picked up some pretty handy skills while doing it.

But yeah, try to get a part time job, go to classes that you didn't understand before, and study. Well, that's my advice.
 
Mar 9, 2010
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Get disciplined. Learn a physical skill that requires focus, energy and patience and become focused and disciplined enough to study effectively. It looks good on paper and you have a free year.

Or you could work and study now.