I’m currently a polytechnic student. Ever since I entered polytechnic I realised whenever during exam, my hands would sweat and tremble like crazy till the point I couldn’t finished a single exam. Whenever someone make noises or type the keyboard loudly on same table or in the exam room, I will get very annoyed and couldn’t focus, instead I will think how can I enjoy my holiday after the exam. I have been having sleep deprived, my body clock is very bad till the point I couldn’t really focus in class and sometimes I don’t feel like going to school to deal with people and the modules, I only manage to be attentive in class for one week that’s all, I have always felt stressed out cause class participation and everything is graded in my poly I’m an introvert yet got forced to be an extrovert and I felt like I’m not being myself anymore… my exam results is really bad due to lots of circumstances i faced in poly physically, however when I’m at home studying by myself, i understand everything. In exam, I tend to space out also , not knowing what to even type and unable to think… after exam then I manage to solve it, and would remember it until when my GPA got released, recently due to a peer, I don’t feel like going to school as I couldn’t be myself in class cause of evaluations from other peers and lecture. Having see ppl from other school having fun poly life and doing well due to it’s flexibility , I’m actually very envious cause I don’t even have time for myself now to do things I like, I have to participate VIA, CCA , hackathons to build up my profile as well in order to enter university, but now my goal have been set lower and lower … not knowing what I could do after poly… my target went from 3.9 to 3.5 to diploma with merit to 3.3 by the time I graduate…
Hi @Wee
Thank you for taking the time to share your feelings here on this platform. I think it takes a lot of courage to be so vulnerable here, and I want to affirm your feelings - they are all valid and important to share.
It sounds like you are not coping well with Poly since you joined. I wonder if you experience such emotions in previous education settings as well. It also seems like you started with great expectations of yourself, and have been coping by managing these expectations. Sometimes, it takes time for people to adjust to different environment so do be patient with yourself in this journey.
Having poor focus in school can be due to feeling overwhelmed, lack of direction or other distractions. It can feel frustrating and upsetting, maybe that’s why you felt triggered by others’ actions. Here are some ways you may consider trying:
- Identify your triggers. Think about what triggers and distracts you. What is the primary issue that is causing you to feel upset. Are there anything you can do about these triggers like sitting further from people whom you know can make distracting noises. Reflect on your past experiences. Were there situations when you felt triggered, what contributed to those feelings and how you coped with it then.
- Journaling. Track your reactions when you feel strong emotions or engage in certain behaviours. What was going on at that time, note your thoughts and emotions. Writing these down could help allow you to reflect on them more deeply. This can possibly help you gain insight or new perspectives to the situation.
- Self-care. Eat and sleep well. Having a balanced diet and being well-rested contributes to regulating mood and improving cognitive function. Take some time to engage in activities you enjoy , talking to people, exercising or meditation.
- Positive self-talk: It is important how you speak to yourself. We cannot control what others tell us but we are in control of what we say to ourselves. Focus more on your strengths and give affirmations to yourself.
Perhaps you can also take some time to revisit your goals as it sound like you are feeling a little lost. It is helpful to reassess goals periodically to ensure that they are aligned with your current situation and circumstances. Given that you are feeling discouraged at this point, think about what else you can do under such circumstances.
Do also think about your strengths and what have kept you going thus far. I believe you have lots of positive qualities and abilities; and you need to focus more on that. From your sharing, it sounds like you are looking at yourself in a negative light and that will further discourage you. You are still seeking different ways to cope with your difficulties, and you have not given up even though it has been really challenging. I think this is something you really need to affirm yourself for.
Meanwhile, I wonder if you have someone you can reach out to for support. It can be anyone; family, friends, or a professional to share what you are going through. Perhaps they can provide some new insight, perspective to your situation or guidance to help you navigate these obstacles. You may consider speaking with a school counsellor from your Poly as well.
Here are some additional resources for you to consider, it may help you to manage these overwhelming feelings:
- Have self-compassion - https://mindline.sg/youth?wysa_tool_id=love_yourself
- Reframe your thoughts and find new perspectives - https://mindline.sg/youth?wysa_tool_id=find_perspective
- Take deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed - https://mindline.sg/youth?wysa_tool_id=breathe_deeply
Let’s take it a step at a time. It is challenging but you are not alone. Please take care and I hope things get better for you. Wishing you all the best!
Hey there @Wee ! Seems like you are going through problems coping with life as a poly student. As a recent graduate, I hope my experiences may be of some use to you.
I agree that being an introvert can be causing you some difficulties in coping with life after secondary school. This is especially because you are expected to take charge of your learning. As such, how you participate in class plays a vital role in shaping your learning. Though class participation is taken into account, you don’t really need to be worried too much, as I have been often told that it affects your grades very minimally. You should be worried should you not be able to score well in your assignments, and tests totally. Otherwise, keep calm and try to participate in class as simple as paying attention to the tutor as he/she goes through the content in class. You won’t believe me, but I have often been the only one listening to the teacher while others were busy using their phones! 
Typical case of exam stress, I guess. For this I suggest you practise past year papers (if possible) as they can help you simulate exam conditions. You can even do them when you are at school. You can possibly use a vacant tutorial room to help you simulate the exam conditions. this can help you feel more comfortable in the test environment and can possibly help you cope with the test anxiety.
Just remember poly life isn’t the same for everyone. I have been told many times to take up extra curricular activities by my parents, but I didn’t cos they either did not suit my interest or were rather inconveniently scheduled. Prioritise your “me time” cos ultimately you have to be sane in order to study in a Uni 
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Having a goal is better than having no goal. I suggest that no matter how small your goal, just remember to work towards it.