Dear Burnt Out,

As a high achieving student, you must have a great deal of experience being a top student, which burdens you to do well, constantly. So I want you to know that how you are feeling right now is so so so normal to soo many university students. Your lack of motivation does lead me to think you have depression. Depression is not an excuse, it is not a myth. It’s a real disorder that cripples even the greatest minds. What helped me through depression was getting professional help. I’m certain your school has mental health professionals with whom you could share your thoughts, you should consider talking to someone.

Now, I think there are a few things you could do right now. I’m just making a guess here, but does your D and zeroes make you scared of trying hard? Have you given up and told yourself “I might as well not try anymore, what’s the point anyway”? Forget about those marks, you are only a few weeks in. You can still do well in your classes. I think right now, you could brush those marks into a waste bin, and throw them away. They don’t matter. With those marks gone, you can start afresh. You can start working on your classes, do those assignments, study for those tests/exams, write those papers. And I know you can do them well, because you’ve been a high achiever your whole life. 🙂

Another thing you could do is take a break from school. No, that doesn’t mean you’ve given up. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re strong. You know you are a high achiever, you aren’t lazy. You are tired, exhausted, spent. You don’t have any more resources left in you to keep going. You need a battery recharge. Why does taking a break from school mean you are strong? Because it means you are going against the “norm”, against the wishes of many adults, because you love yourself. Self love means having enough respect for yourself to know when your mental, emotional, or physical health is at risk, and doing something about it. Taking a break will help you breathe, introspect, and feel again. I know that feeling, because I am currently on a leave of absence from graduate school. I was burnt out too, and I just needed a break. Many people told me not to do it, but I knew it was the best thing to do for my own well-being. And here I am, feeling awesome for the first time in over a year, and not regretting for a single moment my decision to take a break from school.

So there’s that, those are the two things I’d try to do. Love yourself, be your own friend 🙂

Love,

Miranda