I seem to be slowly drowning in my chemistry class. I have a 4 year old at home, work 30 hours a week, am 14 weeks pregnant with #2 and just found out that my father-in-law has cancer. This news has been devastating for my husband and our immediate family. I am so overwhelmed with life and am taking chemistry at night (2 nights per week) and am not doing well. I got a D on my first test and am having a difficult time coming to terms with this. I am a very good student and am used to studying hard and getting A's and B's in my subjects. I already have a BA in human services and graduated with an almost 4.0 gpa. I am not bragging but just trying to hit home how difficult failing is for me right now. I can only imagine trying to take chemistry again with 2 kids will be even harder. I am wondering what I should do. I felt so emotional about the D grade that I received that I felt that perhaps I just needed to give up on my hopes of going to nursing school and becoming a nurse. Perhaps this is a sign that I can't cut it. I work with and know several nurses who all said that chemistry was their worst class and not to worry but I must pass this class with a C. I am having anxiety dreams at night about the chemistry equations and all the material that just doesn't interest me or make much sense. I loved my bio, A&P and am so disappointed in myslef right now. I would love to hear your opinions.
I am actually in a similar situation but without the stress of an ailing father. I am a 46 year old single mom to 22 month old twins and am going to school fulltime with 12 units and working part time. I did not do the math that was suggested... Algebra because I do not need it to get on the wait list. I can get caught up on the math while I am on the two year wait list. But I don't have the necessary math skills for Chemistry. I am taking Chem 104 which is a mix of General, Bio and Organic chemistry. I got a D on my first test. I have talked to my instructor and am keeping in close contact with her as to how I am doing and how I am feeling. I think the fact that she knows I am a mom with young babies makes her a bit more forgiving on a point here and there if I missed something like the wrong # of sig figs or not rounding the answer correctly or missing a unit on an answer. I am using tutors, one private that I schedule to meet me at a nearby coffee shop away from the kids and the free tutors at school. If I did not use tutors there is not way I would make it. I study at night when the girls go to sleep. They co-sleep with me so I use a little book light to read while the sleep next to me. I use my flash cards and keep doing formulas with the tutor over and over again. I am having my tutor review all of my homework before I turn it in to make sure it is accurate and I am very careful in the lab and check my work against the other star students results. If you can do the homework and lab work with good grades than that should help make up for the lower grades on the tests in lecture:bow:. Watch your withdraw date closely so that you can make the best decision about dropping or not. Or you could decide to take the class later when things have calmed down. If I can do it with twin toddlers... and I started all of this when they were 9 months old than you can do it with one newborn... Hang in there and give it your all or make the decision to wait... Either way feel good about your decision. You do have a lot on your plate. Good luck
I was drowning in Chemistry at first with a 23 on the first exam and then a 41 and finally today a 58! I was drowning and now I feel like I am just arriving at the surface just in time to grab some air. I am averaging a 51 with only four weeks to go with Thanksgiving smack in the middle of that. GEEZ
Im so sorry about your father in law. Im sure this is very hard time for you and your family. Im in chemistry too and have no previous exposure. I have a 4 year old at home and 3 other children in school a during the day, so know how stressfull it can be.
My husband was laid off for 3 months last summer and we are stretched thin with money. Im just applying for loans for next semester or I will have to quit.
I read each chapter thru 3 times and do the homework twice. You dont get it the first time, thats nothing to worry about, just keep practicing is the key. I have a 95% in my class so far going into mid Nov. That is a miracle because i am not what i consider smart and have been a stay at home mom for 17 years.
Stress is probably making it hard for you to concentrate , I know because this is a problem for me lately. I havent done anything for school in days and have really been slacking lately. Im trying to get myself into a regular routine of doing homework the same time everyday.
OMG, that is a full plate; and I'm so sorry about your Father in law. I can totally understand how devastating the D is. How many tests do you have over the semester?
JMHO, but I tend to think this isn't the time for Chemistry for you. You have too much stress at one time and Chem is one of those classes that requires a load of studying. I would seriously evaluate with the prof and a counselor if you do decide to stay in.
I want you to know you can do this! I'm not sure where you are at in the class now but I went thru the same thing. At the time I was in Chem my baby was 1 and my little one was 4. My grandpa (raised me) was hit by a car and was in the hospital for 3 months before he passed. At the same time my husband was attacked by a dog. I didn't understand Chem nor did I have the time to but I did the best I could, and did extra credit, and I passed with a 79%. If he only could've thrown in the extra 1 percent! But whatever, I didn't want to drop because it took soo much just to get where I was so I pushed on. I was also an all A one B student before and that class just made me feel stupid. Hope you're doing better and I wanted to let you know that you weren't alone!
scootersuz, ASN
20 Posts
I am actually in a similar situation but without the stress of an ailing father. I am a 46 year old single mom to 22 month old twins and am going to school fulltime with 12 units and working part time. I did not do the math that was suggested... Algebra because I do not need it to get on the wait list. I can get caught up on the math while I am on the two year wait list. But I don't have the necessary math skills for Chemistry. I am taking Chem 104 which is a mix of General, Bio and Organic chemistry. I got a D on my first test. I have talked to my instructor and am keeping in close contact with her as to how I am doing and how I am feeling. I think the fact that she knows I am a mom with young babies makes her a bit more forgiving on a point here and there if I missed something like the wrong # of sig figs or not rounding the answer correctly or missing a unit on an answer. I am using tutors, one private that I schedule to meet me at a nearby coffee shop away from the kids and the free tutors at school. If I did not use tutors there is not way I would make it. I study at night when the girls go to sleep. They co-sleep with me so I use a little book light to read while the sleep next to me. I use my flash cards and keep doing formulas with the tutor over and over again. I am having my tutor review all of my homework before I turn it in to make sure it is accurate and I am very careful in the lab and check my work against the other star students results. If you can do the homework and lab work with good grades than that should help make up for the lower grades on the tests in lecture:bow:. Watch your withdraw date closely so that you can make the best decision about dropping or not. Or you could decide to take the class later when things have calmed down. If I can do it with twin toddlers... and I started all of this when they were 9 months old than you can do it with one newborn... Hang in there and give it your all or make the decision to wait... Either way feel good about your decision. You do have a lot on your plate. Good luck