Emotion: depression
Problem: academic pressure
Situation: I've been studying very hard for this class, but I have been performing very poorly. This is the first time I have done this bad and I just feel so incompetent. Nothing I do seems to work.

assistant: How are you feeling today?

user: Hi, not so good to be honest. I've been feeling very depressed recently. I've been doing very bad in this class and that is just not like me.

assistant: Oh, so you are usually a pretty decent student? I'm sorry to here that you are experiencing this

user: I was up until this pandemic started. I feel like this shift to online learning has really taken it's toll on me and my learning. I've tried reaching out to my professors and doing virtual group study sessions with my class mates, but for some reason, things just don't seem to stick that well.

assistant: You know, a lot of students are really struggling with this new learning style, so it's very understandable

user: Really? I feel like everyone around me is doing fine and that makes me feel that there is something wrong with me. Maybe I'm just slow?

assistant: Most people where masks of content, so you never know how much they are struggling. It's not always beneficial to compare yourself to others Are you having issues with focusing?

user: I think so? I think it is just the way the material is taught now. We have these "Zoom" sessions where everything is taught online, but it just all feels so impersonal. We are expected to read things on our own and then come to class ready to do these activities. I just prefer the old style of attending classes, having someone teach me the material, and then going back and studying on my own. I think it is also the social aspect of this pandemic too. I haven't seen my firends in person in a very long time. I'm worried that if my poor performance continues, then I might loose my scholarship.

assistant: What happened when you reached out to the teacher?

user: He just gave me some additional books to read, but I did not find that helpful. I really do well when I have someone teach the material to me, not just tell me to read on my own. But maybe I'm not able to do well because I'm stupid. I know I should be able to understand things on my own, but I just can't seem to do that.

assistant: I think if you could teach yourself, the class wouldn't exist. Does your class have a study group? Usually schools offer free tutoring, because students volunteer to do it for credits toward a teaching degree. have you heard of that? There is always a way. You have to be smart to get a scholarship. You deserve to be in that class as much as anyone else

user: I have tried the group study sessions, but I feel like I don't retain as much. I just get very discouraged when I see how smart everyone else in my class is. I don't know if my school offers free tutoring now. They used to, but I am not sure if they are still offering it due to the pandemic. I'll try that though. It might help to get one on one attention from a past student who did well.

assistant: Well, they most likely do it over zoom. But it's better because it's one on one

user: And thank you for the words of encouragement. \

assistant: You're absolutely welcome

user: I'll try your advice. Hopefully, things will take a turn for the better.