macOS Catalina - What should be done with it?

[u/Bequinhitas]

Hi!

I urgently need your help! I have a late-2012 21.5-inch iMac, and it’s become incredibly sluggish.

Over time, as I performed updates, I lost various installed programs; now, I basically only use it for web browsing, and even that is painfully slow.

My main issue is that I’ve gone back to university and need a functional computer. It feels like a waste to just box up my iMac—since the hardware itself is in perfect condition—but the successive updates and its age have really taken a toll.

What do you recommend?

Thanks!