I had a recurring dream growing up. In this dream I didn’t graduate from college. I would be standing on stage — with the rest of my graduating class — waiting to walk along with them and receive my diploma. But there was something that would prevent me from reaching the stage. Whether it was a blocked path, or being held back by security, I could never quite reach the stage.
I have a recurring dream, a nightmare, really. It’s happened several times over the past five years. I’m recognized because I’ve achieved something significant. I’m awarded an accolade or prize that I worked very hard for. In my dream, I make it to the podium and open my mouth to give my acceptance speech only to realize that I haven’t completed college.
I’m going to be honest, I had the same recurring dream throughout high school. I mean – what if one day I woke up and realized that I never graduated? It would be a nightmare! Admittedly, even now when it’s actually happening, I still don’t believe it. This is one of those “Did that really happen?” moments. But now that it has — or is about to — you probably have no idea what steps to take next. Or…. do you?
Like many college students in their late teens, you were stressed about school. You had no idea what you wanted to do with your life and it was only adding to your uneasiness. There was a recurring dream you had, but totally forgot about. This dream is a powerful message that can save your life.
Recurring Dream About Not Graduating College
The purpose of this article is to help people with a recurring dream about not graduating college. Some background info, I am currently a junior in college and have been dreaming of not graduating, or “flunking out”, since my freshman year. I am 22 years old, so it isn’t like I’m 80 years old and can just leave college now if I don’t finish!
I often dream about not graduating college — in the dream, I am prevented from finishing my final exams, and I am forced to leave without a degree. This recurring dream has occupied my subconscious since I was in high school. The first time I remember having this dream was after an AP US History exam in 10th grade. My teacher had given us a particularly difficult test, and I felt unprepared for it.
A recurring dream that I used to have as a student (which I’m surprised nobody else has) was not graduating college. It wasn’t my grades — it was other factors. You’ll find out some interesting details of my recurring dream at the end of this article. A dream, recurrent throughout the years, woke him up right before it was time to graduate college.
A dream, recurrent throughout the years, woke him up right before it was time to graduate college. I have this recurring dream where I don’t graduate from college. Just about a month ago, I woke up in a panic. What was the last thing I had done on my computer before falling asleep? Schoolwork of course. Yes, these recurring dreams are horrible, but it gets worse when you look at my actual grades. In spite of being a Computer Science major, I find that the hardest thing for me to do is to click submit. Even if my professor has already graded and returned my assignment, I often hold onto it for weeks at a time before submitting it — particularly if it’s been awhile since it was due (meaning I’m not under any imminent pressure). My roommates have gotten used to being subjected to my late nights with assignments left undone. They joke that they don’t know what I’m talking about when they ask me why there are 5 tabs open with the same code…So, as an aspiring developer and entrepreneur what can we take away from these recurring dreams? And how can we strengthen ourselves against such negative patterns?
When you feel lost, and like you don’t know what you want, stick to your routine. With the proper care of your body (good, fresh food, plenty of water and exercise), the subconscious will eventually reveal itself. Create a nurturing and predictable pattern for yourself today. Breathe consciously. A basic Hatha yoga class would help quiet your mind. Whatever message is “hidden” inside of you will come out as long as you prepare yourself to receive. Let go and embrace the step of “not knowing”. Related to not graduating high school dream: Dream about graduating high school is an indication for your feelings/anxieties about your a death. You are acknowledging and expressing aspects of yourself that you were previously uncomfortable about. You need to address communication problems with your family or colleagues in work. This states a conflict or a fear that you are facing in your life. You have lost your groove or have taken something for granted. Dream about not graduating college is a sign for feelings of vulnerability or a fragile state in your life. There is no one listening to you. Someone in your life is up to no good. This is a clue for a fear of letting go your old Self and making space for the new you. You are in a threatening situation, some overwhelming obstacle or domineering and possessive relationship. Dream about never graduated high school is a portent for pent up anger that is ready to explode at any moment. You need to get a better handle on your life situation. You need to rid yourself of things that are weighing you down or holding you back. Your dream points to failure in some personal endeavor or a setback in some ideal you had. You are in a situation where you don’t feel like you have full control. Dream about graduating high school again is someone that you call or refer to as doll. You are trying to keep others out for fear of getting hurt again. You are under scrutiny and are being criticized. It indicates your instincts and urges. There is someone watching over you. Dream about someone graduating is a symbol for anger, aggression and fear. You may feel out of control. You may be getting ready to reveal something and confess before somebody finds out. This dream is a depressed mood and a feeling of sadness. You need to pause from life’s demands and reevaluate your decisions, challenges, goals and path before continuing on. Dream about did not graduate refers to the negative aspects of your own self that you are ashamed about or not proud of. You are lacking love or support in some endeavor in your life. You are trying to fulfill a void in your life. This symbolises loss and dissatisfaction with the current state of your life. You are not expressing your anger in a productive way.
Recurring Dream Of Failing Exams
It’s perhaps the most common dream that haunts not only students but also adults who’ve been through the modern education system. We’re taught that exams are important life challenges we need to overcome to succeed in life. So our subconscious mind uses this symbol to represent life challenges in general.
Seeing this dream usually means there is an important, upcoming life challenge you’re worried or anxious about.
In this type of dream, it’s common to experience some difficulty or hindrance in giving the exam. Your pen stops working, you’re out of time, you can’t find your seat, you reach the exam hall late or you forget everything you had learned.
All these are symbolic of you believing you’re not being prepared to face this upcoming challenge in your real life, whatever that might be.
You might get this dream when you’re about to face an important job interview that you believe you’re unprepared for. Your mind uses the exam as a symbol to represent the job interview.
Academic Anxiety Dreams
ORLANDO — You wake up in a sweat, heart pounding, jumpy and agitated.
Suddenly, you remember why.
It was the same old dream: You’re in college. You walk into an unfamiliar classroom where the professor is handing you the final exam in a class you’ve never attended!
Or the bell is ringing, you’re late to a class and you’re panicky because you can’t remember your locker combination. Or you walk into a class but realize-too late-that you’re not wearing any clothes.
Think you’re reverting back to your younger days? Don’t fret. School-anxiety dreams, it seems, are to the dream world what Honda Civics are to the auto world: ubiquitous.
“There are lots of variations of the school-anxiety dream,” says Judy Provost, associate professor of graduate studies and counseling at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. “You didn’t know there was a test, you can’t find your classroom, or, if you’re in college, you’ve got a schedule of classes but you can’t find the right classes at the right times.”
In the world of dream research, school-anxiety dreams are a dime a dozen.
“A dream like this always comes up once a month from someone,” said Marc Schoen, assistant professor at UCLA Medical School, who studies dreams. “When I first got out of graduate school, they were happening often. Now I have them about once a year.”
But age doesn’t necessarily erase the fears of school days.
“I’ve seen people who are 60 years old and come in and tell me about their school dreams.”
Why do people 20, 30, even 40 years out of high school still dream about school?
“The school-anxiety dream is a pattern,” Provost said. “There’s a theme there. The theme has to do with performance-worrying whether you’re going to measure up, whether you’re competent enough.”
The school-anxiety dream is not a reflection of how insecure you were in high school or college, Provost said. Instead, the dream tells you that you are anxious about something happening in your life today.
“Often, I find clients have school-anxiety dreams when they’re taking on a new task at work, changing jobs or if there’s some other part of their lives where there’s a new challenge,” Provost said.
Some people have more than one school-anxiety dream. One week, they have the locker dream. The next, it’s the final-exam dream.
So many of us express anxiety through the school metaphor because school is a universal experience and one of the first places in our lives that we feel performance anxiety.
For many people, particularly those who have spent many years in school, the dreams are a reminder, says Schoen, “that you’re only as good as your last test.”
“It’s so ingrained in all of us that we always have to be looking over our shoulder and be prepared for the next event,” Schoen said.
But Provost says the school dreams may be a blessing.
“I think the school-anxiety dream is a gift,” she said. “When you have that dream, your wiser self is saying, `Pay attention, there’s something going on in your daily life.’ If you pay attention, you can work through and sort out what it is you need to attend to, whether it’s talking to your supervisor or a trusted colleague.”
Or if it’s just remembering that darned locker combination.