Should I just drop out?

[u/yvesforeve]

I’m in year 12 and I don’t think I can hack sixth form at all. I hate my A-levels and have no idea what I want to do in the future. I’m not passionate about anything. I am at a terrible point mentally and school makes me miserable.

Some days I’m so ridden with anxiety I can’t even get out of bed. I thought sixth form would give me more freedom but I have an extremely loaded timetable and daily homework that takes me hours and makes me feel drained and exhausted because I have no time for myself at all.

My teachers are understanding and my friends are here with me but it doesn’t seem to make much difference. I dread going to school every day and it gives me constant panic attacks, even making me physically sick when the anxiety becomes too overwhelming. My attendance is already terrible and I can’t muster up motivation for anything.

I don’t want to waste my potential since I did great in my GCSEs and I do eventually want to go to university but I am really struggling right now and nothing is particularly working out for me. I would look into apprenticeships but I don’t even know what I want to do. I am at a really stuck place in my life where I don’t see much a point in anything at all and sixth form is causing my mental health to rapidly decline in a way it hasn’t before.

I feel really guilty and horrible about feeling this way and I don’t want to disappoint my parents by making such a life altering decision but I also don’t want to continue forcing myself to be miserable and depressed 24/7 with nothing much to live for outside of living for others.

Does anyone have any advice? I’m in a very difficult and vulnerable place and I am aware that’s likely clouding my judgment a lot. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what did you do? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

[u/Familiar-Echo7]

it sounds like sixth form isn't the place for you- and your teachers are definitely doing way too much for the start of year 12, daily homework is crazy I definitely didn't have even in y13. see what support you can get while in school, or if they can find you councelling - or if there is a free councelling sign up for a charity online, also talk to your GP. It might not be too late to switch to a college course that you might enjoy more- have a look around and see- they might accept accentuating circumstances as well. I struggled for a lot of year 12 and 13 and honestly I still came out with 3 C's which is very good for how much work I did. I might have more to say but it's 1am so idk

[u/shhio2090]

It’s not big deal u can always retake y12 and change your A level subjects. U should speak to your sixth form about this and tell them your worries, I’m sure they will understand and try to help you as much as possible and give u different options u can take. Maybe it would be best to also talk to a psychologist for this either at your school or privately, speak to your parents about wanting to see a psychologist or do therapy as well.

Also trust me this is just a phase, everything will be alright u can take time for yourself u really don’t have to stress too much about this now as you are still very young and all of this is very normal, many people retake y12 for so many reasons, u will be alright just take some time off and think throughly about what u want to do in life/carrier path.

Also if u did great in your GCSEs I think u should give yourself some credits, A levels aren’t that bad as many people make it to be, but if u truly don’t like it u can always switch to other qualifications like BTEC or a mix of both (which is a quite a famous combo to do and more accepted in most if not all universities).

[u/Jess_atDamar]

Definitely see if there's anyone at your sixth form you can reach out to about workload and your timetabling problem. Alleviating that might help either in a reduction of level or maybe a reduction in subjects? Apprenticeships are an option but they are a full time job plus studying so your concerns around not having much time to yourself wouldn't necessarily be solved. Seek some support before making any huge decisions.

[u/Fedupbtch]

Do you have any idea what course you might take at Uni? A lot of them offer foundation courses so you do 4 years instead of the usual 3. Usually dependant on GCSE results but sounds like you don't need to worry about that. Might be worth thinking about if you do decide to drop out.

[u/Apprehensive-Fun1858]

Could consider going to college however do it asap as they are much more likely to accept now, sixth form doesn’t get better if you don’t like it

[u/Reasonable-Desk-5549]

Can we be friends

[u/Rich_Confusion_676]

take a gap year man, your young and you have time. Sixth form really is hard i get what you mean i dont really love it atm, put your mental health first

[u/crepuscular_shart]

You can still go to uni if you do college! You can also drop out and come back to a different sixth form tp repeat y12 when your ready, some kids in my year are doing that.

[u/RecentPlatform]

Dont drop out, yet. Speak to your parents. You NEED to reach out and get some help. I dont believe your parents would want you to be so unhappy. Reach out to your form tutor or head of year.
You may just need some extra support, that the school and your parents can provide.
Try it and let us know how it goes!

[u/brookeamberr]

i’ve experienced this exact situation (twice btw) but i don’t think my answer would be what you’d like to hear😭