Grief over loss of future

Ask a Therapist Coping
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I’ve been in university studying to become an allied health professional in the future but an academic misconduct case has led me to be stripped off of many opportunities like overseas exchange and certificate needed to be licensed in the future more difficult based on what the panel of professors mentioned during my case closure.

I feel lost and upset about how this whole thing has panned out and i’ve always wanted to be an allied health professional but with everything going on with my mental health which has led me to struggle to cope with my studies and my gpa being terrible, I’m thinking about dropping out as I don’t see myself being a good fit / good enough for this course. I constantly feel inferior and anxious just being around people.

I don’t know how to bring it up to my family either as I feel like I’ve failed them multiple times over and over.

I feel lost and unsure of what to do but i’m trying.

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Hey @bubblez,

That line… “failed them multiple times over and over” carried a lot of weight and reading your words, I could feel how heavy this whole situation has been. The misconduct case, the panel’s decision, your GPA, the fear of family disappointment. It’s a lot stacked together, no wonder you’re feeling lost and unsure.

What also stood out was congruence. You didn’t minimise or deny what happened. You recognised the consequence, you sounded remorseful, and you’re not running away from reality. Starting with acceptance, even when it hurts, shows courage. Many people deflect, but you’re trying to face it and that willingness is already a strength.

Yes, certification and licensing may now be harder, and that is a real setback. But it doesn’t erase your worth. Failure in action is not the same as being a failure and painful as it is, these scripts often become the ground where resilience and character are rebuilt.

I also hear a deep yearning in your words, wanting acceptance and connection even in failure. When you imagine telling your family, do you believe they should know how you want to be cared for without you saying it? Often, expectations themselves aren’t the problem. it’s when they remain unspoken that they grow into hurt. Naming your fears and hopes might allow your family to meet you differently than you expect.

This isn’t about excusing what happened, it’s about recognising remorse, holding self-empathy, and giving yourself a chance to rebuild.

if the feelings of failure start to overwhelm into “i can’t go on,” please reach out quickly… SOS at 1-767 or 1771 can connect you to someone right away.

Gentle note on academic misconduct and career pivots in Singapore.
Although academic misconduct consequences are real, but they don’t always mean the end of further study or professional life.

  • Appeals: possible if there’s new evidence or a procedural error, though outcomes vary.
  • Continuation: many students are allowed to continue, though with restrictions.
  • Transfers/pivots: some move into adjacent fields (psychology, social sciences, public health, health admin) where licensing restrictions don’t apply.
  • Support systems: universities have academic counselling, mental health services, and career offices to guide recovery.

Even though the setback is serious, but it isn’t a permanent life sentence. What matters is how you navigate the next steps… with self-empathy, openness to support, and willingness to explore alternatives.

How you can research your actual roadblocks and options

  1. Check the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) website
  1. Contact your university’s Office of Academic Affairs / Registrar
  • Ask directly: “How does this misconduct affect my eligibility for AHPC registration?”
  • They can clarify whether it affects only exchange opportunities or also final certification.
  1. Consult your Faculty’s Career Office or Programme Director
  • They can suggest adjacent career paths (rehab support, case management, research, health admin) or internal transfer options.
  1. Explore Mindline.sg’s Service Wayfinding Tool
  1. Map out pivots instead of only losses
  • Identify transferable skills (anatomy knowledge, patient care, teamwork, communication).
  • Explore roles in research, policy, community health, education, or social work where licensing weight is lighter.

Right now, it may feel like your whole path is over, grounding yourself in facts, what AHPC actually requires, what your university actually prohibits, what career offices suggest, will give you clearer edges to the roadblocks. Only then can you decide whether to appeal, to stay and rebuild, or to pivot into a related path.

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