I started sixth form two weeks ago now doing A-Levels in psychology, biology, chemistry and geography. The sixth form I go to is actually part of my old school so I expected things to be almost the same as they were before, but I was wrong. I have all my friends still with me, the same buildings, same teachers, very similar routines and the same way of doing things. I didn’t ideally want to stay at my school but I thought that changing would cause me a decline in mental health due to the changes and having no one to talk to, so I decided to stay.
I was very apprehensive before going in for the first day, even though I only stayed for less than an hour! I had already seen my timetable which I wasn’t very happy with so that made me not want to go. I was unhappy with some of the teachers I have (and still am!) as well as having an uneven distribution of frees which would mean a built up of pressure at certain points. I’m not in a form or classes with my friends apart from one.
I went in with an open mind and a positive outlook because I thought this would make it better for me. The first day wasn’t at all bad because I only had two lessons as it was mainly assemblies and I had a free. I spoke to some new people who I met in my form who were nice. However, the last lesson of the day was potentially the most stressful hour I’ve ever been through. The lesson was with a new teacher who obviously didn’t know anything about my anxiety and it was a very fast lesson which made my anxiety very bad. I was so worried that all of sixth form would be like that and I would have no one to help me.
I’ve come back to this post to finish it after a few more weeks at sixth form. I am still really struggling because obviously, A-Levels are hard! I have had no one to talk to about my struggles with anxiety because it is at the worst it has been for a long time, and it getting worse. I’m going to try and talk to someone because I honestly don’t think I will last if this carries on. The person I talked to before has now left and I don’t know what to do now.
I have spoken to some of my friends about it but it’s difficult because they are in the same situation but they all deal with it a lot better than I do. They are great for support but at the end of the day, they aren’t professionals which I need to recover.
I hope that I can do something to help myself because I’m desperate to do well in my A Levels because I need them for my future, when I want to help people like me!