Bombing out of school, uni or TAFE

Bombing out at school, uni or TAFE, or getting worse than expected results, can be stressful, especially if you've previously averaged higher marks, or are depending on high results to get into a particular course or profession. It might feel like everyone except you is doing well at school and headed for uni, or that everyone else is passing. Try to remember that everybody's learning and working style is different and we all work through things at our own pace. 

Why you might be bombing out at school, uni or TAFE

Sometimes the reason why you are bombing out or getting worse than expected results might be obvious, while at other times it might be for reasons you hadn't considered. Some reasons might include:

• increase in workload
• poor study habits or organisation - not enough time spent studying, especially common if you moved from the highly structured environment of high school to more relaxed uni environment
• unrealistic expectations
• lacking the motivation to study
• illness - physical or emotional problems
• family or relationship problems
• high stress levels related to study
• poor attendance at classes
• the way material is being taught is not best suited to your learning style.

How bombing out might affect you

You may be experiencing a range of emotions, including feeling:

• overwhelmed
• surprised or disappointed, particularly if you've worked hard and/or previously received higher marks
• stressed or anxious
• annoyed and frustrated at yourself or others
• down or depressed
• hopeless or as if you want to give up
• a sense of regret, shame or failure.

The situation at school, uni or TAFE may also be affecting you physically. For example, you might:

• feel physically sick, including headaches or migraines 
• find it hard to concentrate
• sleep too much or not enough.

Bombing out at school, uni or TAFE may affect other parts of your life too and you might find you're not able to enjoy the things you normally would. You might also feel more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol as a way to escape or numb overwhelming feelings.

Suggestions for managing the situation

If you are failing or not performing as well as expected at school, uni or TAFE, there are a range of things you can do:

Talk to your teacher/lecturer/tutor - Explain that you are having difficulty completing/handing in the work. If they are not given a reason to explain a poor performance on an exam or assessment, they have no choice but to give you a bad mark. However, if you speak with them about what the problem may be, they will be more inclined to organise help/extra time/special consideration.

Get extra help to understand the course content - If you are finding the course tough, you may be able to get a tutor to help you understand the subject content. This might be a subject tutor/teacher, a friend who is doing well or someone from the study skills centre at university or TAFE (which offers low cost tutoring for both uni and high school students).

Get organised - If you are finding it hard to stay on top of your studying it may help to work out a study plan so you can balance your subject load and other commitments - it can make a significant difference in how productive you are. Your teacher, tutor or school counsellor should be able to help you create a plan.

Reassess your subject choices - If you are not enjoying the content of your subject it might be hard to stay focussed. Sometimes your subject might be compulsory and you just have to stick it out but it may be possible for you to change to something that you find more interesting.

Challenge and reset your expectations - Sometimes it can be helpful to re-think your own expectations. This may help you decide if they are achievable for you. A useful question to ask might be 'What would I suggest to a friend in this situation?'

Have a range of options for the future - Sometimes expectations are only focused on one outcome and if you don't meet it you might feel disappointed or that you have failed. Usually there are a number of ways to achieve a goal. Other options that you may be better suited to could include TAFE (if you're currently at school or uni), apprenticeships, short courses, or even doing one or two subjects at uni instead of a full time load. Just because you aren't getting the grades you would like doesn't mean that education is not for you.

Get to know your learning style - Learning styles are characteristics that refer to how you approach learning tasks and process information. Everybody has different learning styles and no one style is right or wrong. It might be that the way subjects are being taught at school or uni are not best suited to your learning style. Knowing your style might help you to take advantage of it when you study and help you to improve your school/TAFE/uni results.

Check out the JCU study skills online in the related links section to find out more about one outline for learning styles.

Get some head space/chill out - Sometimes getting some head space and a change of scenery can be helpful - it's important to give yourself permission to do this regularly. This might include going for a walk or listening to your favourite music, reading a book, going to the movies - whatever works for you.

Don't give up and keep it in perspective - Getting less marks than you hoped for does not mean you are a failure or a bad person, but rather that you might benefit from improved study habits or reassessing your choices. It doesn't necessarily mean that you'd be better off giving up entirely.

Look after yourself - It's important to take time out by doing something that you usually enjoy. Even though you might not feel like it or have time, exercising and eating well can help. Getting plenty of sleep can also help.

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which help you think more clearly and feel better about yourself. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week, such as a 15 minute walk or 2 or 3 laps of a pool. Visiting your GP for a general check up can be a way of making sure there isn't any physical problem.

Monitor your diet - Making sure your body has the right fuel could impact on your head space.

Speak to somebody - Get some support from somebody you respect and ask for some guidance about the direction you're heading and try to make a plan to get back on course.

Avoid drugs and alcohol - Try not to use alcohol or other drugs (including lots of caffeine or other energy boosting drinks) in the hope of feeling better or forgetting expectations and pressure. The feeling is usually temporary and the after effects often make you feel even worse.

Repeating or taking a year off - You might decide to repeat a year. Alternatively, you might decide that school, uni or TAFE is not the right place for you at the moment and taking a year off (or more) to work might be the most suitable option for you. You might find it helpful to talk through the pros and cons with family, friends and teachers.