Am I retarded? ADD? Learning incapable?

[Coldkilla]

I don't know what happened between high school and college but something must've.

In high-school I had near straight A's.. My first semester of college I was getting decent grades.. around A/B-/A/B for my 4 required full-time student 12 credit classes. Now a brain cell must've popped because now my math class was so insanely hard, I had to drop it (got a 6% on my first test). My PC programming class (Im a CS major), even the kids who were really lost first semester are now light years ahead of me... I've missed hw assignments because I couldn't do them. I got a 59% on my last test.. On my placement tests I did poorly as to start at all the beginner math classes/English classes.

On my way 1 hour ride home, I keep switching to random subjects in my head.. From what I did in school that day, to seeing a doctor, to seeing the waves crash on the breakers and day dreaming, to programming some missions on a video game (ArmA)..The game is different to me because I use teamspeak & have played online with the same people since I was 11 (a sort of social life I guess then, but nothing I care about).

I Probably think about 300+ different things in that short hour.. Everything I do really is based from impulse, nothing is ever really planned out and thought about prior to the action taking place..

*Could it be because I switched from being in college as a full time student from 5 full days to 2 super full days?
*Could it be because I've been exposed to education for 14+ years that my brain is too tired?
*Could it be because my brother is clinically retarded/slow and I'm related to him.
*Could it be because I am mentally unable to learn?
*Could it be because I work for 3 hours every morning on days I don't have school?
*Could it be because I speak when I think, so when my thought process gets interupted, so does my speech and I look like an idiot.
*Could it be that I am selling 15+ things on eBay atm and answering selling questions daily?
*Could it be that I have around 17(real) emails a day and have to frequently check it?

I'm not lazy. I go in for tutoring and professor assistance every time I go into college. When I am sitting with ether the tutor or professor for those 2-4 hours per day in college, I understand what they are telling me in their office, but once I leave.. I just go "WTF did we just talk about?". I have no 'real' friends. In high school I was pretty popular, with 25 or so friends (in a senior class of 190)...20 or so of those people hung out every single night senior year almost, only 1 was a druggie, but most of us were pretty good honeroll students... The band of friendships between us started to fall apart after high school when I got pissed at someone making fun of my only crush.

+ I don't drink/drugs. The only social activity as a 19 year old, is play with my guitar player (I drum) on weekends because we can't find any band members who like heavy metal (that isn't screamo).

I talk to people now and trip over my words, slur, mumble, I always have to reread my posts on AT to make sure I at least look like I got a C in my 2nd grade English class. I just don't understand whats wrong... could it really be something? Or all in my head? Or... idk.. I've just been so lost..

I also live at two homes (parents divorced). Switching once a week, taking my whole pc setup with me. My 40lb full tower steel case, monitor, etc etc..

Any suggestions on how I can turn this world I'm in upside down? It's like I'm trying for nothing, trying just to ultimately fail in the end.

==============================================
Updated facts to avoid future questions:
1. I cannot switch my college schedule from 4 classes to 3 classes because then I am not covered under my parents health insurance.
2. I do have a laptop.

 

[Heifetz]

wow...

 

[Coldkilla]

Pathetic? I'm assuming 40 dozen responses related to that.

 

[OutHouse]

maybe you just need break?

 

[tfcmasta97]

Originally posted by: Citrix
maybe you just need break?

could help you a ton-->

plan to take a day off, just relax and unload, get lots of sleep, go easy on the readings for a day, slow your pace down just for a bit.

 

[Tobolo]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I don't know what happened between high school and college but something must've.

In high-school I had near straight A's.. My first semester of college I was getting decent grades.. around A/B-/A/B for my 4 required full-time student 12 credit classes. Now a brain cell must've popped because now my math class was so insanely hard, I had to drop it (got a 6% on my first test). My PC programming class, even the kids who were really lost first semester are now light years ahead of me... I've missed hw assignments because I couldn't do them. I got a 59% on my last test..

On my way 1 hour ride home, I keep switching to random subjects in my head.. From what I did in school that day, to seeing a doctor, to seeing the waves crash on the breakers and day dreaming, to programming some missions on a video game (ArmA).. Probably think about 300+ different things in that short hour.. Everything I do really is based from impulse, nothing is ever really planned out and thought about prior to the action taking place..

Could it be because I switched from being in college as a full time student from 5 full days to 2 super full days?
Could it be because I've been exposed to education for 14+ years that my brain is too tired?
Could it be because my brother is clinically retarded/slow and I'm related to him.
Could it be because I am mentally unable to learn?

I'm not lazy. I go in for tutoring and professor assistance every time I go into college. When I am sitting with ether the tutor or professor for those 2-4 hours per day in college, I understand what they are telling me in their office, but once I leave.. I just go "WTF did we just talk about?". I have no 'real' friends. In high school I was pretty popular, with 25 or so friends (in a senior class of 190)...20 or so of those people hung out every single night senior year almost, only 1 was a druggie, but most of us were pretty good honeroll students... The band of friendships between us started to fall apart after high school when I got pissed at someone making fun of my only crush.

+ I don't drink/drugs. The only social activity as a 19 year old, is play with my guitar player (I drum) on weekends because we can't find any band members who like heavy metal (that isn't screamo).

I talk to people now and trip over my words, slur, mumble, I always have to reread my posts on AT to make sure I at least look like I got a C in my 2nd grade English class. I just don't understand whats wrong... could it really be something? Or all in my head? Or... idk.. I've just been so lost..

I also live at two homes (parents divorced). Switching once a week, taking my whole pc setup with me. My 40lb full tower steel case, monitor, etc etc..

Any suggestions on how I can turn this world I'm in upside down? It's like I'm trying for nothing, trying just to ultimately fail in the end.

Its because High Schools coddle the student so they get great grades, so the districts scores go up, so they get more money. Colleges don't give a damn. Welcome to the real world.

 

[ebaycj]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
I don't know what happened between high school and college but something must've.

In high-school I had near straight A's.. My first semester of college I was getting decent grades.. around A/B-/A/B for my 4 required full-time student 12 credit classes. Now a brain cell must've popped because now my math class was so insanely hard, I had to drop it (got a 6% on my first test). My PC programming class, even the kids who were really lost first semester are now light years ahead of me... I've missed hw assignments because I couldn't do them. I got a 59% on my last test..

On my way 1 hour ride home, I keep switching to random subjects in my head.. From what I did in school that day, to seeing a doctor, to seeing the waves crash on the breakers and day dreaming, to programming some missions on a video game (ArmA).. Probably think about 300+ different things in that short hour.. Everything I do really is based from impulse, nothing is ever really planned out and thought about prior to the action taking place..

Could it be because I switched from being in college as a full time student from 5 full days to 2 super full days?
Could it be because I've been exposed to education for 14+ years that my brain is too tired?
Could it be because my brother is clinically retarded/slow and I'm related to him.
Could it be because I am mentally unable to learn?

I'm not lazy. I go in for tutoring and professor assistance every time I go into college. When I am sitting with ether the tutor or professor for those 2-4 hours per day in college, I understand what they are telling me in their office, but once I leave.. I just go "WTF did we just talk about?". I have no 'real' friends. In high school I was pretty popular, with 25 or so friends (in a senior class of 190)...20 or so of those people hung out every single night senior year almost, only 1 was a druggie, but most of us were pretty good honeroll students... The band of friendships between us started to fall apart after high school when I got pissed at someone making fun of my only crush.

+ I don't drink/drugs. The only social activity as a 19 year old, is play with my guitar player (I drum) on weekends because we can't find any band members who like heavy metal (that isn't screamo).

I talk to people now and trip over my words, slur, mumble, I always have to reread my posts on AT to make sure I at least look like I got a C in my 2nd grade English class. I just don't understand whats wrong... could it really be something? Or all in my head? Or... idk.. I've just been so lost..

I also live at two homes (parents divorced). Switching once a week, taking my whole pc setup with me. My 40lb full tower steel case, monitor, etc etc..

Any suggestions on how I can turn this world I'm in upside down? It's like I'm trying for nothing, trying just to ultimately fail in the end.

Bolded because change is required.

 

[Coldkilla]

I thought about a break. But then my mother says I won't have the drive to go back to school. (My dad told me that she was a huge stoner in HS) and my mother wants "what she never had" so leaving high school would just cause another sh|t storm here at home...

 

[Oil]

Go out and talk to people and have fun. You will never improve your language skills if you only talk to people online

Also, wouldn't it be easier to sell your desktop and buy a laptop so you don't have to drag it around so much?

 

[Saulbadguy]

Ritalin.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla

I talk to people now and trip over my words, slur, mumble,

You might want to go see a doctor if you have a slurring issue. It could be from some serious health issues.

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: OSx86Go out and talk to people and have fun. You will never improve your language skills if you only talk to people online


Even with the 20+ friends.. I was always anti-social, and always hung out with them because I liked the atmosphere of 20 people interacting and having fun.. and for me to be there felt more like a gift than a serious bonded friendship...

Originally posted by: OSx86
Also, wouldn't it be easier to sell your desktop and buy a laptop so you don't have to drag it around so much?

I'm sort of a gamer. I like having the higher end pc and playing more serious oriented games. I only play at night when my school work is done, only for 3 or so hours.

Now its spring break for me for 10 days.. but since I'm already behind to begin with, whats the use..

 

[suicidalpigeon]

Poor study habits? Tried SQ3R?

 

[AbAbber2k]

You're in college and you still switch between living with each parent? WTF? I wouldn't be surprised if that alone was enough to fvck with you. Either that or you jumped into classes that are way over your head. 6% on a test? What level math are you in? I assume you took placement tests?

 

[Ricemarine]

I think........ you are thinking too hard...
Take a step back. Look at the big picture, and plan out accordingly...

Maybe you need to do a 3 class load instead of 4...

 

[imported_cheapdude]

Don't blame yourself because you are stupid.

 

[tw1164]

Do you even want to attend college?

 

[Rustican]

Highschools is easier.

Highschool are not all the same. An A+ in one school is a B- somewhere else. Maybe you're highschool didn't prepare you well enough for college.

You best option is to network. Join or start up some study groups with class mates. Go to extra hours that professors or their TA's hold. Get a tutor if you have too.

Schedual you classes so that you have a mix of hard and easy classes during a semister. Don't overload yourself with all hard classes in one semister. Take the minimum anount of credits needed for a full time student.

Don't smoke pot. Drugs are bad mmmkay?

 

[Coldkilla]

I want to be in college: So I don't drive a $2000 dollar car with a missing bumper for the rest of my life living in a house 5 feet to the nearest house.
I cannot have a 3 class load instead of 4. Because then health insurance will not cover me.
I took placement tests and did the worst anyone could do. I forgot ALL the knowledge attained in high school come college time.

edit: to Rustican

I already said Im taking tutors and professors for help. Also said I don't do drugs.

 

[iroast]

Poor study habits. In high school, teachers check up on your homework. In college, only some do.

Moreover, you can do poorly in high school, but still do well in college and vice versa.

EDIT:
Instead of spending 3 hrs playing mindless games, why not read a few chapters ahead and or double check your homeworks? That way, when you go to class, you can ask the right questions? Leave gaming for the weekend.

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla

Originally posted by: OSx86
Go out and talk to people and have fun. You will never improve your language skills if you only talk to people online

Also, wouldn't it be easier to sell your desktop and buy a laptop so you don't have to drag it around so much?

I'm sort of a gamer. I like having the higher end pc and playing more serious oriented games. I only play at night when my school work is done, only for 3 or so hours.

Now its spring break for me for 10 days.. but since I'm already behind to begin with, whats the use..

And there lies my point. College is the time where you need to meet people and have fun. This only happens one time in your life, don't let it pass you by because you were playing pc games the whole time. Hell, I used to be addicted to pc games (specifically CSS). You just need to figure out what really is important in your life and go from there.

If you like to drum, try to start a band (even if it isn't heavy metal). Trying out other types of rock won't kill you

 

[Rustican]

What's your major? Maybe it's just not for you or things aren't interesting enough to keep your attention. Consider other paths you can take.

If you're really set on your major now then you'll just have to wade your way through it.

 

[bignateyk]

hmm i dunno... your highschool grades really have no bearing on college performance.. highschool is a joke.. I got a 4.0, and didnt take a book home once in four years.

Its also perfectly normal to find it hard to focus and concentrate on college classes. you SHOULD be out having fun and drinking, etc.., it will help you feel less burned out. Have you tried learning the material on your own? In college, when I went to class, I just zoned out and didnt learn anything, but I learned how to teach myself the material. I learned 4 years of electrical engineering all by myself, and managed a 3.8GPA. If I didnt learn by reading the material and doing example problems on my own, I probably would have been failing classes left and right because I didnt learn anything from office hours, or the professor.

 

[Coldkilla]

I'm not close minded. I like all types of music, it's just my guitar player and I have been together for over 6 years... and our last band all got G/F's and moved on with their lives.

The thing is, I was pulled into the circle of friends in high school, I never was open to finding new people. At this point in my life... I don't have time for friends, nore do I honestly care about meeting new people.

 

[KayKay]

im not trying to be a jerk but i like it when people who are smart in highschool, and they get a taste of this. i wasn't an A student in my highschool, but my school was really tough and because of it, i carried my B average there and i still have a B average in college. you just need to face the facts that highschool means nothing