I’m tired boss. I’ve had a really rough semester and I can’t look at my calculus without my eyes glazing over. Now that it’s time for the final I’m looking back at all the concepts I had “breakthrough” moments with… And I got nothing. Can’t remember a lick. I don’t have any gusto in me still, I’m already planning to retake the course but fuck me ive never experienced burnout like this.
Is this normal?
Yes, it’s common. If you have the time, I recommend spending a day or two just literally doing nothing stressful, giving yourself permission to relax and not work. Or maybe an afternoon. Or any hour. Hell, a single minute, or one single good inhale and exhale. Imo, the best way to do this is to go out into nature where there are few people around, and just have leisurely walks or maybe read a fun book under a tree. Or else spend the time with friends, sitting on the porch in the sunshine drinking tea or coffee and chatting. Avoid electronics devices or driving vehicles (especially in traffic) as much as possible. If you don’t have the time, I recommend trying to find some time to do this after your exams, before your next semester begins.
Imo, it is good that you anticipate re-taking the course next semester. Now you get to study and take the exam as if it is just practice for next semester.
Also, as you study, my bet is that you will find the concepts come back to you faster than you learned them the first time. It is quite common for us to forget how to do things, expecially things like academic math which is seldom used outside the classroom. We remember things more easily when we learned them recently, when we repeat them more, and when we can relate them to other useful and important things in our lives. Hence why I could probably tell you the exact order of operations dor disassembling and reassembling a motorcycle clutch, but I could only tell you that the Hamiltonian has something to do with matricies.
Remember that the most important thing you’re learning is that you can do hard things. Look at you, right now, burned out and feeling terrible, but still giving this exam your best shot! Knowing calculus, passing this class, getting good grades, getting a degree - those are all nice. But what will really help you succeed in life is exactly what you are doing right now - perservering. Trying your best even when success is far from guarenteed. Remember, you have to be the hero in your own story, and it’s not a good story if the hero never struggles!
Take a deep breath, accept the fact that you are stressed, accept the fact that remembering this stuff is difficult. And then try to appreciate the fact that you’re showing a lot of character by doing something so difficult. Be proud of yourself, and get back to studying.