Question: For the past year or so, school has really began to feel like a drag. I don’t find it exciting, fulfilling, meaningful, etc. like I used to anymore, and I’m feeling uncertain about whether or not this is the right path to be on. The passion doesn’t seem to exist. How do I approach these feelings?

Thank you for your question. I would first like to say that I think most people can relate to that feeling of school being a drag at some point (I know I can!). However, if they are not passing feelings and you also, as you describe, feel uncertain about your path, it seems really important to pay attention to what is going on.  So kudos for you for not just trying to ignore these feelings.

You mentioned that you used to find school fulfilling and meaningful, which makes me curious about what may have changed for you recently. So here are a few questions that you might want to answer for yourself:  What your hopes were when you started school? When you look back to when you felt connected and fulfilled by school what stands out the most to you? Is there a way to reconnect with some of that?

This may not fit for you at all, but I wondered if your feelings have anything to do with regularly being evaluated and assigned grades. Sometimes we can easily attach our value to what kind of grades we get, rather than what first got us motivated for school.  If we become focused on grades alone, anything short of our expectations can be
discouraging and take away feelings of excitement. If this fits for you, I wonder if rediscovering meaning in school could be done through acknowledging the milestones you have made thus far. How have you grown and changed since you started post-secondary? What lectures or classes are memorable to you? How will you use those lessons outside of school?

You also said you’re not sure whether you are on the right path, which leads me to think you might have questions about your program and your future. Perhaps these questions are related to concerns about your future career? Answering the question “what career do I want” can be difficult. Student Counselling Services offers a Career Passion Workshop which helps students begin to navigate some of those tough questions. Since you are asked questions that help you to identify what matters to you and what would make a meaningful life, doing the workshop might also reconnect you with what truly gives you motivation and excitement. The dates for all of our workshops
can be found online on our website (http://mtroyal.ca/CampusServices/WellnessServices/StudentCounselling/).

There are also other parts of school apart from academics that can give meaning to the
experience. For example, being involved in clubs, volunteering on campus, connecting with professors and peers, going to the gym, or working as a research assistant (and many more). I wonder if finding ways to integrate more of what you find meaningful in your life outside of MRU into your student life, would help renew that sense of excitement you said you felt previously.

Lastly, we also want to check in with students who feel the way you describe about their overall mood. Are your feelings about school a great invitation to answer some of the questions above, or do you feel less excited about life generally? If it is the latter, it is worth visiting a doctor to make sure that you are well physically and not feeling the drag due to a lack of nutrients or other physical problems. As well, if low motivation and loss of interest persist, and you start to feel not yourself in your mood and thoughts, then do please come in to talk to a counsellor as well.

I hope one of these suggestions has been of help. Please know that our team at student
counselling services is also available to you to help further explore how you might approach these feelings and questions.

Mirjam Knapik, Ph.D., R. Psych. and Alyssa West, Masters of Counselling Practicum Student

MRU Student Counselling Services