Aspies For Freedom

I have never been an excellent student; teachers usually described me as bright but lazy.  I could usually get by with poor grades, but lately I have no more motivation to keep studying and going to class.  My personal and social struggles have been magnified these past couple of years to the point where I have very little will power to do anything that isn't instantly gratifying.  I was able to get accepted to a highly ranked college, but lately it is looking like I won't be able to graduate.

When I was younger I could usually rationalize or blame something else for my problems, and find a way to 'start over again.'  Part of the reason why I was able to have hope and keep trying was the fact that I had a network of friends and peers that accepted me and allowed me to confide in them.  Now that just about all of those friendships and relationships have faded, and it all has come into focus, exactly what is so 'wrong with', or 'different' about me, I feel as though I cannot try hard at anything anymore.

I really don't know what to do anymore.  I am 21 years old, and I feel like I have nothing to show for it.  Does that make sense?  I know that at least finishing college is the right thing to do, it is what anyone older and wiser would advise.  Unfortunately this accomplishment would not mean anything to me, becasue other more fundamental aspects of my life are empty.  

I guess this is more of a rant than anything, but I have known individuals who were easily worse off than me finish college with satisfactory grades.  What makes my case unique to those, though, is that my situation has suddenly changed, whereas theirs was somewhat consistent.

So that's why I have so big motivation problems?

(don't have friends)

erkolos, I hated school.  And I did not do well until my last two years when I decided that I would not be able to go to college if I didn't impress the right people .... and pretty quickly. Then my work became stellar.

So, a goal.  School work in and of itself is generally not motivating.  There has to be something else you want that makes it worthwhile --- kind of like gnawing through a piece of liver to get dessert.

You're right!

I probably wont manage to like liver! ;p

I was thinking about trying to get interest in school related topics. I guess if I were to do that I would have to seek out the topics in a setting I feel I can have more control over, like wikipedia.

For those of you who did well in school, what kept you motivated?

I have several hours of difficult work assigned every day, and often the material is of an ambiguous nature, making the whole experience frustrating to no end.  Is there any way to maybe trick yourself into wanting to work, or something like that?  Any input would be appreciated, becasue I'm getting very close to the point where they ask you to leave and not come back.

I'm a freshman in college now. In high school, I graduated with  a 3.7. Wow, I must be really smart and motivated, right? NO!! not the case, I am smart, but motivated, hardly ever. I got these grades, due to teachers taking my work late, giving me extensions, letting me do the work in a fashion that was interesting to me, cramming at the last minute, luckily it usually turned out to be something good,and the teachers not penalizing me too much when it was late. Sure, of course I did some work, but as far as reading the assignments, I hardly ever did that, I just followed along with the discussion sometimes, put in a few opinions, and I was alright. Off-topic, sorry. I usually took twice as much time doing something I like and then some work, this helped me stay motivated. I've learned that you should actually do twice as much work and then take a break and do something you like, and then get back to work, and not have the expectation that it all has to be done at one time. This helps keep you motivated. One problem that I do have is getting concentrated on the assignment, but that is an excuse.Now that I look at it, I really am a slacker. Please, only take some of this seriously. College, is proving to be more difficult, and my grades aren't looking as great even though my classes aren't hard. I am really unmotivated right now. I will take some of my own advice.

Don't know if this will help anyone on the homework thing... but I try to work with my natural energy levels and momentum.  If I had a worksheet or paper to do I would try to get as much done at the end of class as I could... that way I'm not DOING the work when I get home, I'm FINISHING it.  Kind of wierd, but for some reason that renaming of things really worked for me...  If I had a paper to do I'd maybe write a quick outline of what it should cover. (I've told others on this forum that I managed essays really well, it was more like doing math than writing an essay in some wierd way)  That way I could get home and have a focused and complete thought in mind already so I didn't have to groan to come up with it.

And I would work at the end of class even if it wasn't a time when we were supposed to do so, after the bell rang or whatever.

Wierd, I know... but when you have a wierd brain you have to do wierd things to make it work for you.