I wouldn't call it back burner

It's more like he wants to hit rock bottom, hit it, and then keeps smacking his head on the rocks screaming "why can't I hit rock bottom!"

Keep improving yourself, it's your best tool. Oh and about school IMHO it's more important than him now. So quit thinking about him and hit the books, join study groups, and ask others for help. It helps build social networks and gets you through the class.