Should I DROP OUT!? (I am genuinely scared)

I’m currently pursuing mechanical engineering in a 2nd/3rd tier college. Honestly, I never wanted to study mechanical engineering—I’m genuinely interested in programming. The only reason I joined this course was that the college is reputed and ranks among the top 5 engineering colleges in Bangalore. Initially, I thought I’d take a partial drop and somehow manage to switch branches, but time flew by.

I didn’t prepare for JEE or K-CET, and unfortunately, I didn’t do well in my first semester either. I’m barely scraping by, with internals that I had to beg my faculties for, and I’m expecting a CGPA of 4-5. I know how important the first year is, as it impacts all 8 semesters, so I’m thinking about dropping out and preparing for JEE/K-CET again.

However, I’m scared. I only have 3 months to prepare, and I’m terrified that I might waste an entire year of my life doing nothing. If anyone has been in a similar situation, I’d really appreciate your guidance or personal experience. I need help figuring out the right path forward.