Whilst on the subject of studying etc. I have recently discovered how easy it is not to attend classes and not to complete homework.  Throughout my whole school life, I was one of those kids who was, basically, a swot: I always completed my homework and handed it in on time; I studied diligently for every assessment from the major exams to the minor tests; and I never, ever deliberately skipped a class - in fact, I hated missing school, because it meant being at home.

In school, you just cannot win.  You either turn out looking like a swot by being a 'good' pupil which pleases your parents, but you get picked on rotten by your peers, or, you turn out looking like one of the 'cool' kids which pleases your peers but disappoints your parents.  Obviously, I was the former, out of choice or not, I am not certain.

However, I was thinking recently, how I can kind of understand why some students do not do their homework, do not study for tests and deliberately skip classes.  For the first time, I have experienced this lack of discipline, and it is a scarily easy trap to fall into.  I have started two courses (with the intention of: getting me out of the house; giving me something to do in my time off; building my confidence; finding myself) and for the first few weeks, I was doing well.  And for me to admit that is such a huge achievement.  But then I started to feel more and more fat which makes me hate myself more and more (which seemed impossible) and then I get more and more depressed and withdrawn, which makes me more and more reluctant and then subsequently unable to physically leave the house.  So I don't go out - I skip classes.  I feel worthless and unable to do anything to any degree of satisfaction - I don't do my homework.  I haven't done my homework, so I don't go to class and it spirals and spirals out of my control within a matter of...days at the most.

When something major is going on in your life, things such as homework seem trivial and unimportant compared with the big problems.  And you cannot talk to your tutors about this because, well, I just can't.  Then they get angry at you because they don't understand, and you get frustrated because they are so harsh but really, you are frustrated with your worthless self.

Easy.