I DON'T KNOW if you can help.... I feel bad about being late to complete college. How can I get

I am three years late to graduate college. I have ADHD but didn't take meds for the first three years of college because I hated how they made me feel, couldn't afford them, and thought I could do fine without them. Also, I was working full time and still am. Now that I'm back on meds I've been getting straight A's. My problem is that the first three years were terribly awful and now I'm that far behind. I have two years until I receive my bachelor's degree. Not a day goes by that I don't feel extreme guilt about this. I am constantly depressed, have lost most of my motivation (because it's too late). I used to be so optimistic about my future; now, at 22, I feel old, worthless, and that "the best" is behind me.

All I do is ruminate and obsess about how much of a failure I am, and sometimes figure I should just drop out because I blew it, even though getting a college degree is my dream. I look lazy and careless to the average person. How can I stop obsessing?

I DON'T KNOW if you can help.... I feel bad about being late to complete college. How can I get over it?home theater system

hey lil one, this comes from a 51 year old who never had time for school, after high school. Kids at 16 and family never gave me the time to go back to school. I only wish I was 22 and had your problem. You go for it get what you can no mater how old you are. I have read im many news Papers of people in there 70 going back to high school. So College at 22 is right where you should be. Great job!! Get all the school you can and feel good about it . Check into your local schools and and check the ages of some of the enrollments that should help. I'm telling you You'll find many older than you.. Good luck and stay in school...

I DON'T KNOW if you can help.... I feel bad about being late to complete college. How can I get over it?the grand theater opera theater

i do not now sorry
Cheer up. I work with single moms and they're your age and happy to be completing their AA degrees just so they can transfer to a 4 year university. But I can relate to you because I was supposedly diagnosed with ADHD but it didn't stop me from getting a degree and it took me six years. I'm 27 now and I feel like I lost a lot of time developing myself by concentrating on school so everybody is behind in their journey in some way or another. Be happy that you are able to get straight A's because I wish I could. Also be happy you got a full time job and enough money coming in to support yourself because it makes everything easier. Maybe there's something besides being guilty about those standards you put on yourself like the "i should be here at this age" talk. You may need to talk to a psychologist to help you. Just find a nice one. Find another one if you don't feel like they're helping.
It's never too late to get a degree. You got yourself on the right track and are doing much better, so you are going to get that degree. Do you have a teacher you can talk to about this?

I'm 22. Started out going for a marine biology degree. My grades sucked, and with a record of straight A's in HS I felt like a failure and it was killing me mentally. I changed majors the first semester of my junior year because I had ended up hating the biology program. I wasn't sure if I should feel guilty over all the time 'wasted', but I told myself it was a learning experience. I dreaded telling people my new major (digital arts) because compared to biology, its redicuously easy and a huge change, and people gave me some reactions that I hated.

A lot of students don't graduate on time. Just remind yourself that you did NOT blow it because you are still in school and are on the way to getting that degree. Picture yourself in the cap and gown and how great you are going to feel when you get the diploma.
It took me a long time to complete college because of my manic depressive disorder, even with meds, i found it difficult. But i did it. I was 31 when i completed my degree but at leat i did it. You can do it too, don't feel bad about being old. Age equals wisdom.
You are being WAY too hard on urself... giv ur self a break.... your only 22... that is EXTREMLY young.... when one feels depressed the past always looks better %26amp; the future ALWAYS looks bleak.... that is what depression is..... have you considered an anti-depressant purhaps...?? They hav saved me over the years.....
I wasted a lot of time too in university. I think it's common. What happened with me? I have mood swings, frequent depression. I went for three years straight first. Every other semester I'd be getting A's and things would be fine, but then, as is my mind's way, depression would kick in and I'd find myself getting D's, C's and maybe even F's. Well, I did something stupid and attempted to try medication one year, but I had reacted very badly to antidepressants and failed an entire year! So after that, I went back part time for a semester, then I took 2 years off to travel and figure things out...Then I transfered to another school and lost credits, so I'm 23 and I have 3 years left on my degree! Ah well..I felt bad for awhile too, but then I thought about the things I've done in my time away from school and it's totally worth it.

If you're really having trouble accepting it, why not make an appointment with your school's counselling centre? Most post-secondary institutions have psychologists on staff because mental health issues like the ones your experiencing are very common among students.
well, i consider myself an average person, and to me you look AMAZING and not lazy and careless at all.... in fact you look just the opposite. look at all you have accomplished in such a short time.... just completing college is a BIG deal, no matter at what age you do it... i don't personally know of any "rule book" that says you have to go straight from high school into college and finish in 4 years... my youngest brother took 9 years to complete it and once he did, he felt great... he has ADHD and worked, like you, and it is stressful, plus i have several friends who went back to school in their 30s and 40s. in today's world, i don't think it is an age issue anymore... just getting it done is an accomplishment in itself.

STAND TALL and BE PROUD and just know that what you are achieving is so much more than a lot of people will ever accomplish, and once you are finished, you will have something to be very proud of. the struggles that you had to endure to get to that point will be behind you, but have given you life experiences to share and help others.

Good luck for your future successes.. you are on the right track ...
What? So there's a rule on how old you got to be to complete college? Who says?

The only time you stop learning is when you're dead. Cheer up.