These lab sessions...why?

(Note: ScaredandScarred, you're exempt because I just told you this verbatim, unless of course you'd prefer to comment here.)
I'm starting to dread my lab sessions in chemistry class. I mean, it was difficult enough at the start because I don't really relate to anyone in the class (although I've tried with a couple of people), but now it's just a living nightmare. It's like nobody understands that I had problems with the course the first few weeks (no compatible tutor on campus whose schedule matches mine) and that the professor is not getting through to me; no matter how hard I've tried, I can't understand half the words he says. I actually tried getting him to pair me up with someone who has a clue but he didn't take that seriously and by the time he came back to me saying that he "had ideas" I was so frustrated at him that I gave up looking. So, the last lab was the reductio ad abusrdum of this. The course section the lab covered we hadn't even been to yet in the lectures, and I only just got my questions for the previous chapter (mostly) cleared up through a couple of you (you know who you are). I didn't understand what was going and why, and the way the professor was trying to explain it sans lecture made about as much as sense as if one of you tried to talk to me in Chinese. But the rest of my lab group didn't understand that the whole thing was going over my head. They actually wanted to know why I wasn't going to the prof's impromptu study group and why the tutoring center couldn't help, when I have already told them why, twice: The answer to the first is that since the prof is basically incomprehensible to my ears trying to get help from him is a waste of my time, and the other is that the center simply couldn't match me up because no one is here when I know I can be, given my schedule (the other days of the week I pretty much have to work). The only good tutors they have are only here weekends which I cannot hack. The next lab -- and I've looked at it -- unfortunately builds on the previous one, which means I'm sunk because even with Powerpoint slides available the knowledge base isn't going to be there. I could change groups, I suppose, but the truth of the matter is I just feel completely alienated now -- even from my own group mates, who I only teamed up with after the one girl in that group decided she'd try to shield me (but even she doesn't understand what "I need someone else to explain this to me" means) -- and would so much rather do what I'm not allowed to do: Work alone. The prof said after I crashed out of the last lab (fourth fail in five attempts) that one of my lab partners (the one female in the group) would try to help bail me out the rest of the way (he had a long discussion with them after seeing me break down into a heap), but I have to tell you guys I think he is complete bullcrap (please pardon the choice of words). I guess I could try to talk to this classmate but she didn't understand I need a team up twice now so why should I bother trying a third time? I already want this to be over but we're deep enough in now that I'm pretty much committed, taking a withdraw at this point would just be counterintuitive (I'd have to take two of these science courses next semester if I did)....(at this point, just buries my head in my lap, about to cry)

Replies

ScaredandScarred
ScaredandScarred

*gently hugs you and says it will be ok*
What is the next lab about. Lets get you caught up, you know that we can do that.
Can you send me what the lab is about and we will get you understanding it better than anyone in the classroom, even the prof :)
From now on, send me the lab details a day or so in advance and we will go through it with you. We can turn this around
You can do this Journeyman, I know you can. It will be okay
xxx
Summerwind81
Summerwind81

Friend I totally agree with Scared...it WILL be okay! Damn I wish you were taking English or communications or something I could help you with. But I\'m here to talk whenever, you know that. Hell, you can even ask me chemistry questions if you want, who knows, maybe I\'ll turn up something on YouTube...although that\'s a very, very long shot given my grasp of anything science-related.