University Burnout/Travelling

[evman150]

Ok, most of you people know who I am and what my deal is, so I'll save the intros.

I think I'm getting sick of school for the first time in my life. I went to university right out of high school and went straight for two years (including the summer). I took this past summer off and have been back for a month and I hate it. I started out with six classes and am down to four. I am the laziest, least motivated student possible, it seems. It seems like I need to be reenergized, reinvigorated, recharged, whatever.

I'm sitting here procrastinating, thinking about how in the hell I'm going to pass my classical mechanics midterm tomorrow. I just don't even want to deal with it. In years past I'd be at least doing something constructive right now, instead I'm on CP and 2+2 and RFD etc etc wasting time. Being at school, the only thing I can think of is going home for the day and watching some tv or playing some poker or going to subway or watching some hockey or having some beers or screwing around on the internet. I don't want to be at school, I don't want to do a stupid assignment. I don't want to write up a lab for ten hours. I just want to have fun, do fun stuff, be lazy.

What's wrong with me? Where's the motivated student who wanted to get his BSc in 8 semesters and move on right away to his MSc/PhD? Where's the student who dreamed of being an astronomer, finding answers to the universe's greatest questions? Is astrophysics even for me? I'm having all sorts of self doubt. I know if I apply myself I can do it. But I don't know that I can apply myself. I have gotten through two years of a degree in physics and astronomy without really applying myself, and my grades have been ok. Now all it takes is a little effort for the last two years to get myself into graduate school and I can't come up with it. Am I afraid that I'm not smart enough? Am I in denial?

I just want to sit at home and watch Jerry and cooking shows in the day, play some poker and have fun. I don't want or need a job (for now, anyway), I just want to do "nothing" (of importance).

I was sitting in the library today working on some physics assignment thinking how much I'd rather be somewhere else when a buddy walked by. He asked how I was and I told him I felt like **** cause I didn't want to do the assignment and I just wanted to quit school. He recommended something I had never considered before. He said I should take a semester off and travel. This suggestion struck a chord with me.

So here's (are) my question(s) for the oh so helpful and educated and worldy CP OT crowd. Is travelling a good idea for me, even if I'm not exactly into travelling? Where does one go? For how long? For how much money? With other people or by myself?

Money is not really an issue, although of course I'd rather spend less than more.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for any comments/suggestions/whatever.

[Ozy_Flame]

You sound exactly like how I felt in my last two years of university, so I hold nothing against you for feeling that way. Infact, I congratulate you for finding this out - it's hard to admit to yourself that this is the way you feel. When I was in Haskayne, I always felt like that towards the end of it all.

I suppose my advice is that you're in no rush - do the things you want to do NOW, but realize that you should finish school. Take it from someone who is now done - being in school is actually fun, in retrospect. It wasn't real life. You get to meet people, call your own schedule with the courses you want to take, and put off the mundane working world for just a few years. I wish I was back in.

You SHOULD go travelling. I told myself I was going travelling two years ago, and now I'm finally leaving this Saturday for Down Under. I'm not the biggest travelling fan either - I love my bed, and I love Calgary, and I have come tor realize that in the past few months, almost like i never want to leave. However, I know that going down there can only make me stronger, and learn to fend for myself, but also to enlighten me in ways that school or work could never do. While I'm taking a pessimistic approach to it right now, I'm sure once I go down there everything will change, and regardless of what happens, I'll come back in four months and truly believe I needed to do it to prove to myself I could do it.

Perhaps you'll find that for yourself someday. For now, I would go with what your instinct and/or gut tells you - it's never wrong.

[Flash Walken]

Where do you think you might want to travel? Europe? Asia? Africa?

I've only travelled to Europe, so if you're looking for suggestions on that front, I went two summers ago and backpacked through 10 countries in a month.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Where do you think you might want to travel? Europe? Asia? Africa?

I really have no idea.

If this is going to happen, it will most likely happen early in the new year or soon thereafter. I have responsibilities with baseball starting in mid-late March.

I've always wanted to go to Scandinavia, but I don't think that's going to work in the dead of winter.

Besides that, I really have no idea where I want to go. Let's say I was to go somewhere for the month (maybe more, maybe less, whatever) of February. Where is a good place to go in February? Does travelling "cold" places in winter suck big time?

Is African even feasible? I don't want to die. Maybe Australia? But that's kind of limiting, I think I'd like to see more of the world than just one country. But February would be perfect in the southern hemisphere. South America? I don't know.

I definitely don't want to go near Asia.

I just don't know. I'm most definitely open to suggestions.

[liamenator]

Every student I know has come across this at one point or another. It's the nature of the beast, especially in your first couple of years... At this age and with university throwing the whole concept of self-motivation right in your lap without any real preparation, I think it's inevitable.

I took a semester off after 3.5 years and it was the best thing I could have possibly done. I tell every single one of my friends, regardless of how close or far away they are from graduation that there really is no downside to taking a break and recharging. I mean really, what is 4 or 6 months in the grand scheme of things? Will you really curse yourself if you graduate in December of '08 rather than May of '08 when you have 50 years of work in front of you?

It really is the only period of your life when a person is able to do such a thing, just pack up and take off for a while, putting all the responsibilities of home aside for a period of time. And not only will it help you get your head around what you want to do career-wise, a lot of other things will also be put into perspective with travel. You really do learn a lot about who you are as a person, what you are capable of, where you want to be headed, what is important to you etc etc.

So go do it, definately.

The obvious destination of choice for most students is Europe as there is something for everyone there, it's easy to get around, you can survive quite nicely with a minimum of language skills (and I mean bare minimum), there are a million hostels in every city you can think of which are affordable, you'll meet tonnes of people who are exactly like you... there are countless great reasons to go backpacking there.

Whether or not to go by yourself is a tough question. It really depends on the person.. I went by myself and couldn't imagine having done it any other way... When you are solo you really can do whatever the hell you want, whenever th hell you want, without having to worry about a clash of interests or having to compromise with anyone else's plans. I think there are certain situations in which going with other people would be the way to go- If you were looking more to just party and and rock out I'd imagine going with a few people would be awesome as well... It depends on what you want to get out of it... My problem with travelling with people is that if you always have a safety net of someone familiar with you, one of the two inevitably ends up being totally reliant on the other... and I don't think either could truly immerse themselves in the experience in a siuation like that. People I know who did the group travel thing havn't seemed to have taken away the same kinds of things as me or people I know who have gone solo... But thats just my opinion.

One thing I will say is don't not go because you're afraid you won't be able to hack it solo. I was petrified prior to leaving that I didn't have to social skills or self-reliance needed to survive such a trip, but I was totally off. It was a breeze, and the best time of my life.

The price tag of a trip to Europe varies.. I came across people who were scraping by, sticking to a daily budget militaristically, wouldn't eat if they had spent their daily budget before dinner (which seemed slightly excessive) so they could do it for literally close to nothing. Mine worked out to be under 9 grand all in for 6 months (plane tickets, 4 month rail pass, food, lodging, everything) but I am sure you could do it for cheaper.

If you do go to Europe.. Go to as many different places and experience as many different cultures as you can... I think I went to 17 different countries and each new country I arrived in became my new favorite place - to this day I find it impossible to distinguish a place I enjoyed most.. They are all so different.

Oh.. And for hostels... I found (2 years ago) they are generally around 15-25 Euros in the popular Western countries... and in the East I never paid more than 15/night. Go to hostelworld.com and have a look around.. Its a great site and I used it almost constantly.

Yikes that was a novel of a post.. but I can't stress enough how great of an experience it is!

[V]

Huh, I was just like that from 2nd year til graduation. I think I'm still that way with work. I just want to do nothing for a bit. Unfortunately, that's not an option anymore, with a mortgage and a wife and kid to feed.

Travelling's a good idea. Backpack through Switzerland. A buddy of mine did that, and I'll be envious for the rest of my life. Just hike from one small town in the mountains to the next.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by evman150

I really have no idea.

If this is going to happen, it will most likely happen early in the new year or soon thereafter. I have responsibilities with baseball starting in mid-late March.

I've always wanted to go to Scandinavia, but I don't think that's going to work in the dead of winter.

Besides that, I really have no idea where I want to go. Let's say I was to go somewhere for the month (maybe more, maybe less, whatever) of February. Where is a good place to go in February? Does travelling "cold" places in winter suck big time?

Is African even feasible? I don't want to die. Maybe Australia? But that's kind of limiting, I think I'd like to see more of the world than just one country. But February would be perfect in the southern hemisphere. South America? I don't know.

I definitely don't want to go near Asia.

I just don't know. I'm most definitely open to suggestions.

Maybe you should travel to New Zealand and Australia. Check out some great scenery, enjoy the nice southern hemisphere weather and take a break from life. Maybe chill out on the the sunny beaches of the cook islands for awhile.

They even have good pot down in New Zealand.

If you wanted to stay longer and were worried about money, it isn't difficult to get a job in New Zealand either in some sort of labour capacity, they are constantly losing people.

[icarus]

Do it, and don't be hesitant. Take a leap of faith and just say I am going to do this. It will be one of the most cherished times of the rest of your life, mark my words.

As for where to go, that is up to you. Do you want adventure? Do you want to be a beach bum? Do you want to do both?

Personally, I wouldn't let cold weather stop me from travelling to a place I have always wanted to go, but that's just me. I have been to the UK a couple times in the dead of winter and had a great time.

Scandinavia is brilliant and if that's where you want to go, then do it. In winter you'll be able to catch some hockey in Sweden and Finland. More than the cold, the biggest downside is that it will be dark a lot. Also, believe me, you want to be in Scandinavia in the summer. That's not to say you can't go back.

Europe is never a bad idea. I've been there five or six times and I still feel I have only scratched the surface. Even in England where I have lived and visited many times there are a million things I have left to see.

The Southern Hemisphere would be a great place to be in February, that's probably the best time to come actually except that it might be busy.

You won't die in Africa, don't be ######ed. Having lived in South Africa for a few months, I would highly recommend going there. I think everyone should go there at some point in their life, it is possibly the most beautiful country I have ever seen and Cape Town is the most beautiful city I have visited. Google Earth it if you don't believe me. You would be very happy if you went there and would not regret it. It's cheaper than Europe or Australia too. I have heard nothing but good about the rest of Africa. I would advise holding off on plans to visit Somalia or Darfur though. The rest is doable.

Don't choose not to go to Australia because you want to see more of the world than just one country. Countries are just lines drawn on maps. Are you interested in seeing the world or just the stamps in the passport? There is a lot to see in Australia. Imagine someone from Australia choosing not to visit Canada because they wanted to see more in the world than just one country. This is a country with rainforest, desert, mountains, beaches, wineries, cities. You wouldn't be able to see it all in a month, so don't rule it out because you don't think you'd be seeing enough of the world.

South America, I can't comment because I haven't been there yet... I'm sure it would be great. I have friends who have travelled through Ecuador, Peru, Chile and loved it. And Brazil in February? One word: Carnival.

I will leave you with this. Decide where you want to go, if you could go anywhere in the world. Think about it for a while. Then go. Don't worry about the weather. I know you won't regret it. You'll have an amazing time and life will be exciting for you once again. It doesn't matter where you go, there are wonders everywhere if you take the time to pause and look for them.

OzyFlame, drop me a line if you are in Sydney. If I can get my internet connection figured out (ATTN: read the computer help thread people!) we can watch Flames games on Calgary TV using SlingPlayer on my laptop.

[MagicallyAdept]

Hey mate, come over to Europe for a few months. When you are in London i will buy you a beer but not hot wings (about $20 for 10 here). You have to go to Holland for an (Amster)Dam good time and chill out, i mean REALLY chill out
Forget france because well its full of french but go to Barcelona, go to Rome, Venice and Turin. Check out Talinn in Estonia as its better and cheaper than Prague. Meet up with fellow travellers and maybe tag along with them. You will have a great time over here.

If you go further afield, go stay in Manly beach in Sydney in Oz, much better than Bondi. If you can go in Dec/Jan/Feb for awesome weather. New Zealand is so gorgeous and one place i have never been that i would really love to see. But some parts are very similar to Canada. Japan is expensive but totally different to our way of live and you will find it bizarre but so charming. The friendliest people in the craziest place!

If you have the money go to Dubai, even if for the weekend when nearby, such a WOW place!

You will not die in Africa, just don't sleep with the locals in Kenya, don't buy drugs off people with the promise of paying them back later either, thats a big no-no.

Never been to S.Amerca but just be careful there. Tourists are easy to spot and easy targets. You may not get mugged but you will pay way more for food/taxis/beers. Many friends have mine have been to the carnival and they all have said its great but you really have to watch yourself, girls will fall at your feet but they want you to pay for their drinks/drugs/new car etc and local men really don't like the attention being shifted.

Wherever you go though, you should have fun. Always try the local food too, nothing better than wondering what has given you a good case of the runs

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'm supposed to be studying for my MT that's in 3 hours. Yet here I am on CP. You're not alone Evman.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I'm supposed to be studying for my MT that's in 3 hours. Yet here I am on CP. You're not alone Evman.

I'm supposed to be working on my lit review, but hey, look where I am too at the momment....

[JohnnyFlame]

LOL I was like that in school and it didn't change when I went to work other than I had more responsibility as I had a wife and kids. So after years of slugging along I decided to go and work in different places.

I got a job in New Orleans for a couple of years, moved then to Nigeria and worked there for two years, then came home for 4 and then to China for 4 years.

My advice is do it. Sitting in Calgary/Canada all your life is beyond boring and you are missing out on so much it's just this side of unbelievable. The experiences you will have are priceless and your worldview will change a great deal.

Don't know if I can recommend New Orleans at the moment but it is an incredibly fascinating place, Nigeria was great and the people are fabulous but you do have to be careful and China is just a whole lot of fun and very safe and cheap. Language isn't a problem really anywhere I've been and I've travelled a lot. You can pickup the needed words/phrases very quickly and sign language and acting can take you a long way. Plus I'm always amazed at how many people can speak English. They always seem to speak it better than you do their language.

So yep go for it. Work just goes on and on and on and on. Like somebody else stated school is more fun than work. Get out there and travel, finish school and work somewhere else. Calgary will always be here and it will be the same old, same old a week or two after you are back --even if you leave for four years!!!!!

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

My advice is do it. Sitting in Calgary/Canada all your life is beyond boring and you are missing out on so much it's just this side of unbelievable. The experiences you will have are priceless and your worldview will change a great deal.

So yep go for it. Work just goes on and on and on and on. Like somebody else stated school is more fun than work. Get out there and travel, finish school and work somewhere else. Calgary will always be here and it will be the same old, same old a week or two after you are back --even if you leave for four years!!!!!

Excellent post. Although I have not lived outside of canada (yet...let's see if my wife is up for it in a handful of years), I have had the fortune of living in various places across the country - right from the west coast all the way to the east coast. This has been one of the best, and most interesting, "learning experiences" that I have had in my life. I would not trade it for anything. It does, as mentioned, provide you with a much greater appreciation of things as well as a wider world view.

My one grandma always said that "travel is one of the best forms of education you can have". It couldn't be any more to the truth. So go for it, come back to school (just make sure that you finish your school!!) and you will be refreshed. School will also be a lot more interesting...as you will have a different perspective from a lot of people in class.

Cheers.


Evanman - also, what about doing transferring and finishing your schooling somewhere else? That would really throw you a good changeup

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by evman150

Ok, most of you people know who I am and what my deal is, so I'll save the intros.

I think I'm getting sick of school for the first time in my life. I went to university right out of high school and went straight for two years (including the summer). I took this past summer off and have been back for a month and I hate it. I started out with six classes and am down to four. I am the laziest, least motivated student possible, it seems. It seems like I need to be reenergized, reinvigorated, recharged, whatever.

I'm sitting here procrastinating, thinking about how in the hell I'm going to pass my classical mechanics midterm tomorrow. I just don't even want to deal with it. In years past I'd be at least doing something constructive right now, instead I'm on CP and 2+2 and RFD etc etc wasting time. Being at school, the only thing I can think of is going home for the day and watching some tv or playing some poker or going to subway or watching some hockey or having some beers or screwing around on the internet. I don't want to be at school, I don't want to do a stupid assignment. I don't want to write up a lab for ten hours. I just want to have fun, do fun stuff, be lazy.

What's wrong with me? Where's the motivated student who wanted to get his BSc in 8 semesters and move on right away to his MSc/PhD? Where's the student who dreamed of being an astronomer, finding answers to the universe's greatest questions? Is astrophysics even for me? I'm having all sorts of self doubt. I know if I apply myself I can do it. But I don't know that I can apply myself. I have gotten through two years of a degree in physics and astronomy without really applying myself, and my grades have been ok. Now all it takes is a little effort for the last two years to get myself into graduate school and I can't come up with it. Am I afraid that I'm not smart enough? Am I in denial?

I just want to sit at home and watch Jerry and cooking shows in the day, play some poker and have fun. I don't want or need a job (for now, anyway), I just want to do "nothing" (of importance).

I was sitting in the library today working on some physics assignment thinking how much I'd rather be somewhere else when a buddy walked by. He asked how I was and I told him I felt like **** cause I didn't want to do the assignment and I just wanted to quit school. He recommended something I had never considered before. He said I should take a semester off and travel. This suggestion struck a chord with me.

So here's (are) my question(s) for the oh so helpful and educated and worldy CP OT crowd. Is travelling a good idea for me, even if I'm not exactly into travelling? Where does one go? For how long? For how much money? With other people or by myself?

Money is not really an issue, although of course I'd rather spend less than more.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for any comments/suggestions/whatever.

I know how you feel bud.

This is an extremely important decision and it really depends on how you think things will be once you're back from your holiday.

From your post, you said you had taken the last summer off, and upon returning, you absolutely HATE school.

What makes you think that if you take some time off the next time, you'll come back with a renewed motivation? You might, but you might hate school even more (if that's possible).

I've witnessed this scenario before with two different people before... with two very different outcomes.

In one case, the guy left school for a year and travelled the world. Came back, finished his degree and has a good job now.

In the other case, the guy left school and went on a vacation. Afterwards, he went back into school and shortly after (about half a semester), dropped out, wasting the money he spent on school for the first 2 years, and now works at a job he hates.

Don't get too down on yourself for losing motivation. Everyone goes through it as mentioned already.

I'm in my very last 4 months (3 now) of university. After highschool, I took two years off to party and then went to college for two years and then university for four years... straight.

Believe me, during this 6-year stretch I've been unmotivated plenty... but it's a phase, and it will pass. You just need to get through the phase and survive...

So, my opinion, is that you should stay. Stick to it... like I said, your motivation will come back in time. I'd be very worried if I were you that if you were to go on some vacation, you might come back with an even lower commitment to finish your education.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Believe me, during this 6-year stretch I've been unmotivated plenty... but it's a phase, and it will pass. You just need to get through the phase and survive...

I think that's the key. I'm willing to guess that almost any Uni student goes through these ups and downs.
It's really part of the learning experience IMO.
Battling through the hard times is an important skill that you'll need to complete your degree and work in the real world (I assume since I'm not there yet

I'm in my last year now, and I know at around year 2-3 I was wanting to walk away at times too. Personally, I'm glad I didn't, because once I could start to see the finish line, the motivation sure came back.

I think learning to push through the hard times is one of the most important things I've learned from school.

[troutman]

I went to South America for 5 months after graduation. One of the best things I ever did. Go alone if you can - you will meet lots of travellers on the road, and can follow your own path.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

I'm supposed to be working on my lit review, but hey, look where I am too at the momment....

Me too, I have a paper proposal due in .... 3.5 hours. I really feel evman's pain, I'm going through the same thing. All I want is just 4 weeks off from this stuff.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by peter12

Me too, I have a paper proposal due in .... 3.5 hours. I really feel evman's pain, I'm going through the same thing. All I want is just 4 weeks off from this stuff.

Yah. Do you find that even when you "have time off" - like I did on this weekend, we went on a small trip - that you still find yourself thinking about it? I.e. its always in the back of your mind....you can't finally get rid of it until you are actually completely done it....ugh.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Yah. Do you find that even when you "have time off" - like I did on this weekend, we went on a small trip - that you still find yourself thinking about it? I.e. its always in the back of your mind....you can't finally get rid of it until you are actually completely done it....ugh.

Totally. It's always something so small and insignificant, yet it occupies so much of your mind. I guess the solution is actually to do it way in advance.

[Crazy Flamer]

I too headed to University straight after high school. After three years, I could take it no more. I took a semester off and went to work full time. About a month into that, I found I really hated working full time, probably from being at such a crappy job.

So after 8 months off school,I decided to go back, while still working part time. It was at that point that I found I hated both school AND work. But I struggled through it for two more years and finished my degree.

One of the things I wish I had done somewhere during my schooling was travel. I never really had the opportunity. Now that I hve been out of school fora few years and have started to make good money, I have been to Mexico twice, Europe, and Im going to Cuba in the New year. And I absolutely love it.

Travel. See more of the world. Experience new things. There is nothing like it.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."
-St. Thoman Aquinas