Hi. Posted here a while ago about a work situation but unfortunately have another issue which I can’t talk to anyone irl about as I’ll probably just get backlash for it.
So I’m in year 13 doing a levels literally next month. To the non uk people on here, these are basically big exams which run over a month and my grades will determine if I get into university after my gap year or if I get onto a good apprenticeship or worst comes to worst if I manage to get into my local police force. I want to do psychology at uni so need good grades.
I’m not a highly motivated person but over this Easter break I’ve been doing quite a bit of revision, probably around 3 maybe 4 hours a day which doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s a lot to me considering I usually do 0 hours a day. I’ve only been working weekends too so I’ve essentially been doing some revision then watching tv or playing on my ps5 to chill at around 7/8pm.
The issue is, my older brother (23) keeps asking me to play Minecraft with him. He moved out at 16 to live with his boyfriend and boyfriend’s family in a city about 2hrs away from me and my mum. He visits us around once every 4-6 months and we don’t do anything during that time. We all went on holiday together (me, my brother, our mum, my brothers bf, his bfs mum and his bfs sister) last year but that’s the most I’ve probably seen him in about 5yrs. He works in Costa as a night manager and works about 4 days a week. However he’s been asking me every week for the past month to play mc with him. The first time I said no because I was at college, second time I said no because I didn’t have ps plus and I eventually caved and we played for about 3hrs the other day. Since then he’s been asking me non stop. I’ve been saying no because I have revision to do but he just keeps asking and tells me to leave it. I can’t leave it, I need to go up 3 grades in a month. Now we’ve gotten into an argument as he asked today I said no because I have revision to do.
Then every-time I ask my mum which career path I should take (either go to uni for about 12yrs to train to be a psychologist, take many gap years and join the local police force or do an apprenticeship) she always says she doesn’t know and isn’t fussed what I do as long as I’m making money and I’m happy. I’d be the first out of my immediate family (siblings, mum and dad) to go to a decent university and get a degree if I get the grades so it’s a lot of pressure.
I just feel like nobody understands the stress I’m under to perform well and they don’t see the importance of it all as one of my siblings claims benefits and the other works 50hrs a week and dropped out of college to move across the country.
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Congratulations on reaching year 13. You have work to do, and that takes priority over video games.
Let me ask: how much do you want university and psychology? If you desperately want it, you have your answer. If your family is not being helpful, who can advise you? Teachers are my first suggestion. What I might do is interview at university. It is possible that your mother doesn’t know what is entailed. Find people who do. And good luck!
I’m sorry you don’t feel supported by your family. If it makes any difference I support your wish to knuckle down and hit those books.
It appears your brother is seeking to actively throw you off course – maybe to stop you outshining him. You may need to tell him to stop or you’ll block him until after exams. And then proceed to do so.