Q:

I am a 39 year old student at Western. After 3 years I am still in junior standing after transferring here after graduating phi theta cappa at WCC. I say this because now my GPA is in the toilet, and after this quarter it will be officially flushed down the toilet. I am working 25-30 hours a week for a large corporation in which I work physically hard. I live alone and pay my mortgage and bills on my own. I have a dog and cat. My dog has once again torn her other ACL and is need of surgery, again! $3000 dollars or else she will be lame for the rest of her life. I too suffered yet another injury at work recently. After 16 years with this company I just feel like I physically can't go on. I'm drowning financially! In a few months all my savings will be gone. My work schedule is very strict and so the classes I can take are greatly restricted because of this. It will take me forever to finish this degree. BUT......since my GPA is in the toilet any chance of going to grad school is nill!! Veterinary school requires a major GPA. So.....now I think....what is the point? There's no recovery now. Where do I go from here? I feel so incredibly stuck in life. Forward doesn't look too appealing. Backward to just staying at my job looks just as unappealing. I'm ashamed to admit that I have thought of ending my life. Sometimes it just seems easier. I've been given so many chances and I keep messing up over and over. What do you do when you starting wondering what the point of it all is?

 

A:

First thing you must do is realize everyone hits that point at some time in their life--not everyone seriously considers suicide, but everyone thinks "what is the point?" when there is disappointment and struggle. Suicide is not easier than what you are going through now--it becomes a permanent solution to a temporary problem (that is not original, but it makes a great deal of sense).

You are accomplishing far more than most students by working 3/4 time and maintaining an academic schedule. You are proving you are very capable of hard work.

There are numerous support services for students who have hit this same wall.

The Counseling Center is very familiar with what you are going through and have real tangible suggestions for how to get out of this hole you are in emotionally--the overwhelming feeling that nothing is going right, when in fact there is plenty going right in your life--it just isn't apparent right now. The Student Health Center can help if you are needing to consider antidepressants or if you need to take a break from school for a quarter in order to sort out your goals and plans.

The Academic Advising and Career center can review with you where your struggles are and what goals make sense. There are always options and alternatives.

If you want to call and talk--call 650-7328 and leave a message so I know how to reach you.

~The Doc