hi rachel,

sorry to hear about your troubles here! i recommend trying to meet with your teachers after school to ask them what you can do so as not to fail. also, be sure they know that you have adhd and that they are taking that into account. i’d also recommend you check out the study resources we have on our blog about both biology and algebra–they may help! if you take the time to work on both of these subjects after school each day, and speak with your teachers individually, i’d bet you’ll start to see some progress!

best of luck to you! 😀

i’m so sorry that you’re having that problem, austin. i have had similar experiences in my past, and i know it can be very upsetting. i’ll be happy to offer some advice on steps you can take and on how to view the situation.

first, i’d like to say that the situation you’re in is temporary. you will not always have this teacher. whatever grade you get from this class, there are ways you can deal with it and move forward.

i’m curious whether other students have similar difficulties with this teacher. teachers are people, too, and we’re all flawed in our own ways. your teacher might not have a positive view of you, but that doesn’t mean the teacher’s perspective is correct. only you know the full truth of how hard you’re trying to get help and succeed. if the teacher is being unreasonable, then it’s possible other students are having similar struggles, and you’re probably not alone.

a situation full of stress and conflict, as this one seems to be, can definitely be draining on your motivation. that’s normal. why not take a moment to think about why you’re struggling to stay motivated? it might be because you’re not receiving the help and support that you are asking for. if so, then that’s not your fault. that could be your best judgment telling you that you don’t have the tools you need to succeed in this situation. it’s still a situation you have to deal with, but that doesn’t mean it’s a flaw in your personality.

what can you do about it? reflecting on the situation and putting things in perspective can help you find a measure of peace. but you are still in that situation. so, let’s think of people other than your teacher who you could ask for help.

are there other students who understand the situation and could offer some support to you? can you work with them to look for solutions? can you depend on each other for help with the class? do you have a friend who did well in the class year and could tutor you?

are there teachers, administrators, or student support staff at your school who you feel comfortable with? speak to them, and explain your concerns and what type of help you’re looking for. they will be able to help you with advice specific to your situation.

i had a teacher in high school who set up class in such a way that it was impossible to succeed. not one of the students in our class passed our first semester exam. the highest score was a 58%. he talked all class every day, but we were learning nothing. we could not get any help from him, because he just told us to figure it out. we did depend on each other, setting up study groups that could share the load. i fought hard, and i came out of that class with the lowest grade i had gotten in 6 years. but i still got the credits i needed.

that class taught me that you can’t give all of your energy to a stressful situation or it could take over your life. you might fail the class, austin, or you might get a lower grade than you want. that bad thing might happen to you. it won’t ruin your life. it won’t haunt all of your days. it will just be a thing that happened to you, and that is one more brick in building the person you are becoming. and it may surprise you and be the strongest brick yet.

try to think of practical steps that you can take to improve the situation, austin, and be patient with yourself if that’s not easy. rely on those who want to help you, and focus on your goals. if you need a certain grade in the class, then let the benefits of getting that grade be your motivation. we’re cheering for you here at magoosh!

hi there, i’m really sorry to hear about this experience. i know it doesn’t help much right now, but it may be useful to think about your experience this year in the grand scheme of things. students and teachers everywhere are struggling through virtual learning. many states or school districts are completely eliminating letter grades for this last year. even if you do get a letter grade for these classes, there will be a lot of leniency in the future because anyone analyzing your transcripts for college or jobs will immediately recognize that the failing grades were during the pandemic. it sounds like you are trying to be proactive and take responsibility for your own success. i would recommend reaching out to the leadership at your school–a counselor, academic advisor, vice principle, principle or even another teacher you trust–and explain the situation to them. try to gather evidence of what’s going on in the google meet classrooms. team up with other students from your class to present your issues together. you may not get an immediate or satisfactory response to your issue, but you will be advocating for yourself and your future, which is valuable experience in and of itself. remember: this situation won’t last forever. the school year, and eventually the pandemic and virtual schooling, will end. try to think forward about what you can learn from this experience and how you can build resiliency and grit to help you in the future. i wish you the best of luck!

i’m really sorry to hear about this, destiny. it seems completely unfair. i wish i could provide more help!

hi there, i realize how stressful and disheartening this might be. i think it’s important to realize that covid-19 has disrupted schools all over the world, and there ar so many stressors and issues that people are dealing with. i’ve heard a lot of talk among my colleagues about how high schools and universities are going to respond to this. when you are applying for college, you will be just one of many students who may have struggled during covid-19, and most admissions committees will understand and accommodate it. i think we’ll be seeing much more information on this in the coming year or so, as universities adapt to the realities that many of their incoming students have faced due to covid. i can’t say for sure what will happen, but i do know that this does not mean that you won’t get in to college. these grades don’t define you, and you will have an opportunity in your college essays to explain the situation.

the important thing for you now is to determine how you will respond to these issues. reach out to your teachers and guidance counselors and ask for support. talk with your classmates about strategies to reduce stress and improve your grades. focus on what you can change now, in a new semester. you are not alone, and this is not the end of the line. find people who can support you, and move forward with confidence!