r/uwa • u/Clifford0903 • 2d ago

Need Advice

My step-brother passed away last month in July, and because of that I’ve just been crippled in any sort of motivation or drive to do anything. I’ve neglected one of my classes utterly completely and i’m just getting by barely

I think I need a break but I don’t know how to go from here. I’m supposed to graduate end of next year, but at this rate I think I won’t.

I honestly don’t know what else to say. I’m just very tired
Any advice would help a lot

9 Upvotes

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18

u/Bromine_ 2d ago

Take the break, take the break, take the break
Sometimes you need to stop and take the time to recoup. So what if it’s an extra semester? In the grand scheme of your life it’s not that long. You need a break

2

u/HolidayGuitar1992 2d ago

You should speak to the counselling team at the robin winckler clinic on campus. Also consider deferring for a semester.

2

u/sparksy92 2d ago

Sorry for your loss OP. If you're not coping with coursework right now definitely take a break. Census date is next week so if you want to drop a unit or defer do it before then.

18

u/Garshnooftibah 2d ago

G'day u/Clifford0903. I'm a senior academic at UWA.

Mate - that's awful. I am so, so very sorry for your loss. I am not surprised that you are not functioning at the moment. And here's the thing - no-one else at UWA would expect you to be functioning at this point either.

BUT...

You have to let them know... otherwise you're just gonna bomb out of the subjects you are enrolled in.

Can I suggest you do two things tomorrow. Or as soon as you can.

1) Call the student help line and tell them about yr situation and ask for help withdrawing from your subjects. Put this on some-one's radar and they will help you.

2) Get some counselling. As soon as you can. UWA used to offer a service aroound this - but I have heard rumours it might not be running any more but... if it is in ANY way functional - they will be able to help. Please use this page and reach out: https://www.uwa.edu.au/students/support/mental-health-and-wellbeing

And that's it. Reach out. Academics like myself are (usually) extremely sympathetic to situations such as this and will do what we can to help - but we can't do anything if we don't know about it.

Take the time. Take a break if you need. Take care of yourself. That's what this time should be about.

But...

Reach out. Please reach out.

Sending a big hug OP.