r/studyAbroad • u/Relevant-Western-219 • 22h ago
Failed my first midterm
Hi everyone,
I’m currently a first-year Electrical Engineering student studying abroad, and I’m finding university very challenging. Some background info: I was always one of the top students in high school, graduating with a 3.88/4.0 GPA, and I was decent in calculus and physics, getting A’s. I knew engineering would be much more demanding than high school, but I believed I could manage it given my background. However, I recently completed my first Calculus 1 midterm and scored 1.1 out of 10, which left me shocked. I genuinely tried to study, even if I didn’t fully understand the material. I sat for 30 minutes just staring at the paper before I could start writing anything. I only managed to answer 4 out of 10 questions and, as mentioned, scored 1.1. I understand this is what I signed up for, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but now that I’m here, I’m unsure if I can handle it. My math skills are lacking compared to the level we’re covering, and I need guidance on how to study effectively.
What truly hurts is the sacrifices my mother and grandmother made for me to be here (my father isn’t in the picture, so they are my main support). I could have taken the easier route by staying in my home country and graduating from a less challenging engineering program at a lower-ranked university, but I chose to study abroad for better education and opportunities. I can’t go back and tell them I wasn’t up for it, as their sacrifices would seem in useless. One of the main reasons I went abroad was the 3-year European degree program, compared to the 4-year program in my home country. I wanted to graduate and succeed as soon as possible to repay my mother and grandma and become even half the people they are. Returning home would be proof that I couldn’t handle the pressure, and I don’t want that. I don’t want to have “what if” thoughts. I want to succeed, graduate with good grades, but mentally, I’m in a tough place. If anyone has been in a similar situation, please share what you did. How did you study? How did you overcome the pressure? How can I completely change my mindset and achieve good grades? I need reassurance that I made the right decision coming here.