I think at your level, stop trying to make a showreel and really try to home in your skills. Read up on the subject, if you want to make your own ideas, read around design and character design, color choices etc.

Its very important to stay focused on what you want to be and what the skills are to be sucessful in that area.
For example if you want to be a modeller you cant just jump in and model stuff, you have to be aware of anatomy, typology and where your model will be going next in the pipeline and how to cater for that.

Set the bar high, and plan and inform yourself of the skills are my tips.