Freakin stressed out of my mind

Question

im 13 and i have a 5 year old brother with cancer, ive always been a straight A student and play sports all year round,but im in high school now and the work piles up more and the grades a starting to slip and the sports practices are a lot longer the stress from all of that stuff is just to much..should i stop playing sports and spend the time with my brother or should i find a good friend to talk to....i need some serious advice!!!!

Answer 1

Hang in there!

I highly recommend going to see a guidance counselor at your high school. Explain to him/her that your brother has cancer and how it is seriously stressing you out. Also explain that you are worried about the affect it is having on your grades. They should be able to help you and possibly talk your teachers into giving you some extensions on your home work assignments and extra help. You can also go up to your teachers after class and explain how you really want to do well in the class but you mind keeps drifting about your brother. She should empathize with you and be more lenient on your assignments.

I would recommend quitting sports and equally dividing your time between your homework and your brother. It is really important to spend time with your brother because of his condition. But also, your grades are incredibly important. You want to continue to get straight A's so you get into a top college. So maybe when you get home from school, play with your brother for a couple hours, then eat dinner with your brother, then spend two-three hours each night after dinner studying/doing homework.

Cutting out sports will give you a lot of extra time. Sports are great but academics are so much more important. Colleges won't give a rat's A$$ about sports unless you are a star athlete or something. All they care about are your academics. Also, when you apply during the beginning of your senior year, you should incorporate your brother's cancer battle into your personal statement/essay. Explained how you sacrificed sports to spend more time with your brother. They will eat that up!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Talk to someone!!! Does the family have a support group (you know helping with your brothers cancer)  If not see if you can find one.  Or talk to a school counselor or coach.  What about your Pastor??  Please try talking to someone.