My exit due to health got interrupted by another health issue; being unoccupied temporarily, gives me some time to respond at length. If you or anyone else on the thread would take the words of a former university instructor - you know, the view from the other side, what the students don't know when they are students:
I do not wish to say much about myself here, as I might end up identifying myself. AND going is illegal in the country where I now live. (Originally from Northeast US). But, I want to react to one thing in what you say: "Academic failure"
With the benefit of having taught or given lectures at some of the world's top places - and knowing their dark undersides, and seeing everything from third-world adult literacy programs to top-flight research like NASA or NIH, I can say this.:
I have known PLENTY of cases from all over the world, who were failures in the "one size fits all" system of mass education we have in place, but, were really first-rate scholars or even geniuses, if you give a system that fosters each person's abilities uniquely. I have seen this happen at the primary school, middle school, high school, undergrad and very many times over in graduate school. If a given student cannot be classified as lazy, most often, it is the system that's at fault.
I don't know which level of education you are in. But, the first thing I would suggest is, to not presume the system as being fair or perfect and blame yourself, but, to consider if you are doing things right and the system is failing you. If you are not experienced or educated enough to do that, perhaps there is a more experienced well-wisher who can look into this.
If the system is putting too much pressure on you - like some people test poorly even if they understand the material - this day and age, there are many flexible school and college programs out there, and you should try something more suited to your natural skills.
If it is a particular course, then see if its offered by another instructor, in another form, in another semester. May be their treatment of the material suits you better. Or, even look at another school or college offering a more flexible course on the topic, which is easier for you to pass, take that and transfer the credit. Or, just leave the course out, and ask the program director to provide a "special study" replacement tailored to you. Or, just don't study that material in school or college. Study it outside - professionally, or take an online course. Then, if you still need credit, revisit the school course, already knowing the material. There's just a hundred ways to tackle the problem.
Back in the 50s, a very reformist president of the University of Chicago, started a "Great Books" program... no lectures, no prescribed syllabus or texts, or instructors - just a bunch of students reading and discussing the 50 most famous books in history - like Newton and Plato - with a professor moderating, book club style. And many students who struggled in a conventional set-up thrived in it.
Now, if you don't want to be a doctor, the first question is what is your reason? If the course is tough but you like being a clinician taking care of people or research something like cancer, all that I say above would apply. If you don't like the subjects you study, and would rather paint or sculpt, then it is a bit late in the game. Again, it might be better for you to complete the course using alternative routes more to your liking. For I suppose, without some knowledge of basic science they won't have let you in the premed or medschool door.
Bottom-line, if you can swear in good faith you are not being lazy, then 99% it is something in the system. And this is what you got to find and fix. Not yourself. And if the system is broke, no point beating yourself up to begin with. My 2.000001 cents, given I was part of the "educational establishment" once.
HTH.
