r/Advice•
Low-Spot-3110

How to do I stop focusing on my failures?

I need to be kinder to myself. Or meaner. Idk. I just feel like I'm not achieving what I'm supposed to, what would you do to feel better in my shoes?

Hi, I'm 21 and am currently failing half of my couses this semester and, btw, I'm a business major. I need a literal miracle to pass one of these three courses, but being honest, I haven't felt like myself. Ever since I was a kid, I've been very studious, and even though I spent my formative years living some particular hardships (forced migration due to a dictatorship), I think this is the worst place I've been in since I was 17. I stopped meeting deadlines, going to classes, caring about contents, which is very out of character, since I am strangely very passionate about the subjects I've seen. I feel extremely ashamed, because so far I had been able to work and study in a country that is designed for wealthier students (I haven't met anyone from my university that also works to pay for their own studies, meanwhile my family lived in someone else's spare rooms for free bc otherwise we would've been homeless). I thought I could handle what live threw at me, now I feel I can't even read a 2-page paper without my brain melting.

I must mention that during this semesters, other factors may have affected me. For starters, I had to go back to my country to renew my passport and it was extremely challenging to see my family after ten years. Also, I quit my job (I found out I was the only employee not getting bonuses or any benefits) and landed a very cool but demanding tech internship. I won a scholarship for an exchange semester and was accepted the institution I applied to. And lastly, I had to start classes A MONTH later since, after the travel, I could not pay college and they froze my course selection until I finally had the money.

So yeah, overall I am aware that I've faced some... unusual(??) obstacles, but I can't help but feel like shit. The fact that I probably will hae to pay for anothersmeester out of my own pocket also doesn't help, and the amount of scholarships/loans I've been denied only because I am a migrant is seriously demotivating. Maybe I'm just feeling pity for myself but I seriously need a way to snap out of it, what do you people do to get your spark back? My boyfriend says i need to stop being so stressed so can feel joy for once lolz but I'm a migrant girlie and stressed feels like my only mood ever. That brings me to another question, any advice on destressing?

Anyways thx for reading and sorry for my english

Posted Jun 30, 2026, 2:38 AM UTC

13
Loading comments…