Person help: I’m an International Baccalaureate student and I’m obsessed with getting staight A’s. - Help.com

I’m an International Baccalaureate student and I’m obsessed with getting staight A’s.

The problem is that I don’t succeed at this. I have ALL of the motivation in the world, ALL of the desire to work and dedicate myself to studying/homework…but I have zero time-management. I regularly sleep-deprive myself because I’m so perfectionistic about my work (focusing on details makes me lose a lot of time), etc. I just can never win. The only person who’s ruining my dreams is myself.

How do I become good? My consistent lack of success is driving me crazy - making me hate myself and practically feel suicidal (even though I do not intend to follow with suicidal thoughts). I try so hard, probably harder than anyone should, and gain nothing.

I hate feeling sorry for myself but I just don’t know what to do. Help.

This open post was written 1 year ago | V/U/S: 390, 13, 7 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post


Reciprocity (0) Reciprocation Failure -- The poster has NOT helped anyone else yet!

Since writing this post anacris_h may have helped people, but has not within the last 4 days. anacris_h is not a verified member, has been around for 1 year and has 1 posts and 0 replies to their name.

Post Tags (10)

Replies (13)

Where were you?

Click and drag to move the map around. FAQ: How we place people on this map »
You can also watch events on Help.com as they happen
Mouse over the map for 2 seconds to see an expanded, interactive view

HelpBot offline Verified User (0 minutes) Shouts: 5 #
San Francisco, CA, US | 1 year ago (0 minutes after post)

If you are contemplating suicide, hurting yourself, or you are seriously depressed: please, seek professional help!

Call this hotline (1-800-273-8255) operated by our friends at the
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, anytime, for free, professional, and
confidential assistance. While other Help.com users are likely to reply
to your post, please make sure you understand that your use of Help.com
falls under our TOS.

Note: I’m a robot that the Help.com staff created. If this response is in error, I apologize, please ignore it.

This reply has been removed.
This reply has been removed.
This reply has been removed.
DannyB offline Verified User (2 years, 1 month) Long Term User Shouts: 0 #
GB | 1 year ago (18 minutes after post)

In part, you have answered your own question!

You have bags of motivation, but never enough time because your are a perfectionist. You already know what the problem is which is great news because now you can start to work on it!

Higher learning is as much about self discipline and as it is about gaining knowledge and if time management is your weakest link, that’s what you need to focus the most of your efforts into improving.

It also sounds to me like you feel that you have something to prove to yourself or to others. Why does it matter so much that you get straight A’s anyway?

Trying to be the best at everything all the time must be exhausting and very limiting. Think about your life aims and how you can get to where you want to be - and be realistic! Nobody has to perfect all the time, and trying to be will only drive you crazy!

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Hellacious Haro offline Verified User (1 year, 5 months) Long Term User Shouts: 5 #
An Unknown Location | 1 year ago (2 hours, 28 minutes after post)

That sounds like me… except I’m still in Pre-IB classes.

Don’t have goals that are too hard to achieve… try to focus on 3 core subjects and take it easy on other classes.
What you need to do is probably relax….
Stress isn’t gonna help

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Burn out or fade away?
A Hoe offline Verified User (2 years) Long Term User Shouts: 2 #
An Undisclosed Location | 12 months ago (1 week, 1 day after post)

Get out of IB, that **** never did anyone any good.
You can still succeed in normal school.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: what is RichEdHook.dll?
Hellacious Haro offline Verified User (1 year, 5 months) Long Term User Shouts: 5 #
An Unknown Location | 12 months ago (1 week, 1 day after post)

IB is good if you consider going to college in other country….
Right?

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
Help me with: Burn out or fade away?
abcd offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 11 months, 4 weeks ago (1 week, 4 days after post)

I’m a perfectionist also. I got straight A’s in 9th, 10th, and even 11th grade. But now that I’m in my second year of IB it has ruined my life you. I have had reoccuring anxiety attacks the past two years and now that it is drawing to a close I have lost all of my friends and spend every moment in front of the computer trying to finish my essays because I expect them to be perfect. My best friend(one of the only friends I have left) is in a psychiatric ward because she just tried to kill herself. If you are still in your first year of IB get out of it. It is a very rewarding great program but for a perfectionist it will ruin your life. If you are in your second year and have to deal with all of your internals right now then I just recommend learning to put finishing above perfection.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
This account has been deactivated.
nimrodsso offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 9 months ago (3 months, 1 week after post)

Work on time management and the control freak / perfectionist bit. Work on yourself. Get help. Get balance and focus in your life.

If you are not as arrogant as Scriptease is (note how she saw non-existent flaws in your writing and then bragged shamelessly about being “really rather good” and then she goes and misspells “aren’t” and “conjugated”) and you are starting to lose your mind, GET THE F*** OUT OF IB and/or just do the “partial” IB option.

I am sick of hearing about IB student suicides. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, KIDS! LIFE IS TOO F’ING SHORT!!!

And Scriptease, I am fed up with arrogant know-it-alls like you. You make me sick. You would do very well in an IB program, though. The arrogant kids who tear apart the others always do.

–an ex-G/T / IB / magnet student

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
This account has been deactivated.
HOTDOG offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 6 months, 2 weeks ago (5 months, 3 weeks after post)

IB IS EVIL.

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
This account has been deactivated.
HOTDOG offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 6 months, 2 weeks ago (5 months, 3 weeks after post)

smoke weed and just hang out mannnnn just ignore that IB bullcrap. no one needs it , cant really upgrade your university chances! Plus taking IB is just a test, if you leave it you pass and instantly get in uni tbh! We have a messiah at our school who has set an example for us all! He left and now he is happier then ever! Sure he had to walk to the field carrying a cross on his back whilst the IB teachers threw shizz at him. But he said by it had all ended, and started doing A-levels it was the best thing ever. IB = IS BOLLOCK :P acronyms ftw

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
This account has been deactivated.
HOTDOG offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 6 months, 2 weeks ago (5 months, 3 weeks after post)

since joining IB i have had seven strokes, four heart attacks and extreme diarrhoea.
do you want this future?
**** going in means **** coming out.
END IT NOW!

Quote this reply Report this reply to moderators
This account has been deactivated.

Invite Others to Help

A logged in and verified Help.com member has the ability to setup a Friends List and invite others to help with posts.