What’s on your mind?

My first semester of compsci and I already feel like I’ll fumble. Was trying to work on the algorithms and data structures bonus programming exercise today but have no clue how to solve the second problem. It’s a small thing in the grand schemes and bonuses can only help you but I feel like it reflects how much I’ve been struggling to keep up with the subjects. I still have until midnight but I don’t have any more ideas, and everyone just seems to perform so well and manage their time effortlessly. I barely do anything at home besides the bare minimum, so I doubt I’m studying enough. It just all feels so awful 😞 like time and money is being wasted on me just so that I might fail the first semester and have to redo. I also feel like one of the only people who dislikes using gen ai, and combined with other factors I haven’t made any friends, so it’s like one lonely struggle through the course only to be crushed by the boulder I’m rolling uphill. I’m considering if uni counseling can help alleviate some of this, but I’ll have to see some other time. I wonder if someone like me even has the chance to catch up again.

This is my first semester doing bsc math and i feel like the biggest idiot. I was on top of my class in the beginning and was answering everything the prof asked etc. i even belonged to the people who corrected their TAs and their profs and i was just basically being super cocky. My bad habits got ahead of me and i havent even finished one single assignment (i‘m super lazy). I started skipping classes and i cant seem to keep up anymore. I feel like i messed up my studies for good and that i already failed and should give up by now. I have never even submitted an assignment for linear algebra or analysis and all the future assignments seem to follow up the stuff that was being „taught“ in the older assignments that i didnt do. I feel like a loser. I dont even know how to write a single proof and i dont know how to even start doing those assignments. I am really starting to doubt my capabilities and i feel like its destined for me to fail my first semester… how can i keep up? What can i do? How can a lazy person like me become good again? How and when does everyone find the time to do all the assignments for this week and the upcoming week aswell? How is that possible?

For the oldies here: anybody else feel like ETH has sucked out all the enthusiasm you once felt for your studies / research field?

I really want to short major AI companies but dont have the guts to do so (I would go all in and probably lose all money) :(

how do neurodivergent people fare at eth?

Habt ihr das manchmal auch das ihr ne Aufgabe anfängt, irgendwo nicht weiter kommt, danach was anderes macht und danach reinschaut, euche notizen lesen müsst um überhaupt zu verstehen wo man war um dann dort weiter zu überlegen, dann einem kollegen schreibt und dann gar keine lust mehr hat daran zu arbeiten? #will alle Aufgaben lösen

anyone else can't fall asleep cause they constantly have to think about goth mommy feet

I know comparing yourself to others is stupid, but ETH really makes it hard not to. There’s ALWAYS someone who seems to understand everything immediately.

How do people find genuine friends well into their studies?

anyone else struggling with drg addiction?

First week. I miss my home, my old life, my friends and family… I hate this city— it feels like some kind of simulation of what really is real, everyone here seems strange, i kind of feel like it will be impossible to really build a life here. I cried today, sobbed in the bus. When I reached my home i bursted out. On the flip side I don’t feel any academic pressure— there’s just the weight of this tern and horrible city that says nothing to me.

i'm struggling a lot with the social aspect of this. it's not like i expected to have close friends after only one week but i can't even find someone to sit in lectures with. i guess having to travel back and forth between my home and zurich makes it more difficult... it makes me feel like i'm missing out, because i can't comfortably stay in zurich for any social events knowing that i still have a long way home, notes to look at, exercises to solve... and sleeping enough one of these days would be nice too...

First week hasn’t even properly started and I already feel like everyone else somehow knows what they’re doing lol. Anyone else?

When i started at ETH i had a lot of trouble with my living situation: Basement Rooms with no windows, unfriendly roommates and an horrible landlord. But now, after moving 2 times, i have a really cool, (relatively) cheap place with lovely people which i can feel at home. So for every person maybe struggling with housing maybe take that as an motivation.

I need a semester project but don't have the energy or motivation to message any labs

Lost a parent or other loved one? You can gladly talk to me if you feel like it :) You are not alone <3

it's too much!

How do you stop self-optimisation thoughts?

or, talk to me about depression, lack of motivation, or whatever else is on your mind :)

Ask me about antidepressants! Myths, pharmacology, psychopharmacology, etc.