That feeling?

You know that feeling where you know you've tried your hardest but you still aren't going anywhere? Well I hate that feeling and unfortunately, I feel it every day.
It applies to both school and marching band. For ex., in band, we practice constantly and Mr. C makes us march in the rain and all that jazz. It's quite tortuous and miserable, but he always tells us it'll be worth it in the end. Well in both competitions we've had so far, we haven't done as well as we should. We got last place in the first and 9th out of 18 in the second. I guess the second one was alright, but still. It'd be nice to get a higher rank.
And SCHOOL! My life has been constant studying, but my grades still aren't great. I'm sick of trying for no reason!
It'd be nice just to throw your hands in the air and give up. That'd be the easier way out, I suppose. That and suicide. Hmm. Ponder, ponder.